--- title: Does menstrual phase and depression affect how women respond to nicotine after quitting smoking? description: Yes, but mainly in women without depression. Women without depression showed larger cycle-phase differences in heart rate, blood pressure, and nicotine respon url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-phase-and-depressive-symptoms-differences-in-physiological-response-to-2013/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does menstrual phase and depression affect how women respond to nicotine after quitting smoking? Randomised trial, 2013 # Does menstrual phase and depression affect how women respond to nicotine after quitting smoking? Yes, but mainly in women without depression. Women without depression showed larger cycle-phase differences in heart rate, blood pressure, and nicotine response. Moderate study design 47 female smokers aged 18-40 (23 without depression, 24 with depression), smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day ## What they did 47 female smokers aged 18-40 smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day were divided into two groups: 23 without depression and 24 with depression. After stopping smoking for 4 days, they were given nicotine nasal spray during two menstrual phases (follicular and luteal), with heart rate, blood pressure, and nicotine levels measured at multiple time points. ## What they found The no-depression group had larger menstrual phase differences (follicular higher than luteal) in diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and peak nicotine levels compared to the depression group. Participants were 29.1 ± 6.8 years old and smoked 12.5 ± 5.1 cigarettes per day on average. ## What it means for you Sex hormones and depression interact to shape how the body responds to nicotine, which could affect quit attempts at different cycle times. Small to moderate sample size. 47 women 29.1 ± 6.8 years average age 12.5 ± 5.1 cigarettes per day ## About the study Original title Menstrual phase and depressive symptoms differences in physiological response to nicotine following acute smoking abstinence Authors Allen SS, Allen AM, Kotlyar M et al. Journal Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Year 2013 Study design Randomised trial Participants 47 What was tested Nicotine nasal spray after 4 days of verified smoking abstinence Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nts236](https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nts236) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Study, 2020 Does drinking and craving change across the menstrual cycle in women treated for alcohol use disorder? Case-control study, 2017 What cellular changes might explain why some women develop PMDD? Survey study, 2017 Are mental health problems linked to irregular periods in teenage girls? Randomised trial, 2014 How do menstrual cycle phase and depression affect smoking withdrawal symptoms? Non-randomised trial, 2013 Does menstrual cycle phase affect protective hormones during smoking cessation? Randomised trial, 2000 Does how much women smoke change at different times of their menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗