Nicotine intake in smokers increases following a single dose of haloperidol

Abstract

The effects of oral haloperidol on nicotine intake, subjective measures of craving and smoking satisfaction were compared with placebo in light-to-moderate smokers from a post-prandial cigarette and during the subsequent hour of unrestricted smoking. Subjects smoked significantly more, as measured by blood nicotine levels, when they had received haloperidol, although there was no difference between haloperidol and placebo an any subjective measures. These findings may be interpreted to reflect a compensatory increase in smoking in order to obtain the usual nicotine reward. Having achieved usual levels of reward, subjects did not experience a decrease in subjective measures of smoking satisfaction or an increase in nicotine craving.