BACKGROUND: Limited research exists on how switching from menthol to non-menthol cigarettes affects the acute response to nicotine for individuals who smoke menthol cigarettes. Such research can inform public health strategies to reduce smoking prevalence. AIMS: This study investigated whether switching from menthol to non-menthol cigarettes for two weeks alters the acute responses to intravenous nicotine infusions delivered at different rates. We assessed changes in subjective drug effects, smoking urges, withdrawal severity, heart rate, and performance on the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) (primary outcomes)
as well as nicotine biomarker blood levels (ng/ml) of nicotine, cotinine, and nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR
hydroxycotinine/cotinine), and cigarette consumption (secondary outcomes). METHODS: Sixteen menthol-preferring individuals who smoke cigarettes were randomized to a sequence of menthol or non-menthol cigarette smoking conditions for 2 weeks (Phase 1) and then switched to the other condition for another 2 weeks (Phase 2). During week 2 of each phase, an experimental session was held. During the experimental sessions, participants were given a total of 3 infusions, one saline and two nicotine infusions delivered at different rates (1 mg nicotine delivered over 2.5- and 5-min). Each infusion period lasted 10 min, with saline administered for the remainder of the time after the 2.5- and 5-min nicotine infusions. Following the first session, participants crossed over to the other smoking condition. RESULTS: Switching to non-menthol cigarettes led to a decrease in daily cigarette smoking (p <
.05). However, this switch did not appear to affect the severity of tobacco withdrawal, urges to smoke, or the subjective and heart rate responses to IV nicotine administration (p >
.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that switching from menthol to non-menthol cigarettes is feasible without significantly altering the individual's response to nicotine. Further, there may be a potential public health benefit through reduced cigarette consumption.