Negative effect during withdrawal is associated with tobacco relapse, yet little is known about factors that increase the aversive symptoms of withdrawal. This study explored how caffeine, a commonly co-used stimulant, affects the aversive symptoms of tobacco withdrawal.
Materials and Methods:
Rats received nicotine (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg) or saline for 2 weeks, followed by withdrawal, where groups were subdivided based on caffeine (20 mg/kg) treatment. Anxiety was measured using an elevated plus maze.
Results:
A chronic high dose of nicotine led to more closed entries. Caffeine increased closed arm entries and percentage of time spent in the closed arm independent of prior nicotine treatment. Chronic nicotine and caffeine treatment both produced anxiogenic effects, but the effects of nicotine may be driven by activity.
Conclusions:
Caffeine did not potentiate the anxiogenic effects of nicotine withdrawal. Thus, caffeine might not produce negative effects on anxiety during tobacco cessation.
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