Physiological doses of progesterone potentiate the effects of triazolam in healthy, premenopausal women

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rationale Gender plays a critical role in the effects of drugs and drug abuse liability. Biological factors, including ovarian hormones, may contribute to gender differences in drug abuse. Preclinical and some clinical research suggests that progesterone and its metabolites have activity at the GABAA receptor and may enhance the effect of GABAergic compounds (e.g., benzodiazepines). Because women are exposed to varying levels of progesterone from puberty until menopause, and appear more sensitive to the negative consequences of benzodiazepine use, it is important to understand the impact of progesterone on GABAergic drug effects. Objectives The purpose of this experiment was to characterize the behavioral effects of progesterone, alone and in combination with the short-acting benzodiazepine, triazolam, to determine if progesterone potentiates the behavioral effects of triazolam. Methods Oral micronized progesterone (0, 100, and 200 mg) and oral triazolam (0.00, 0.12, and 0.25 mg/ 70 kg) were administered to healthy, premenopausal women (n=11) under conditions of low circulating sex hormones. The subjective, performance and physiological effects of progesterone, alone and in combination with triazolam, were assessed. Results Triazolam alone produced prototypical sedativelike effects. Progesterone alone also engendered some sedative effects, although the time course of the effects was more limited than that of triazolam. Progesterone increased and extended the duration of triazolam effects and delayed the onset of triazolam peak effects, most notably at the 0.12 mg/70 kg dose. Conclusions Progesterone potentiates the behavioral effects of benzodiazepines and may contribute to benzodiazepine use and abuse among women.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)429-439
Number of pages11
JournalPsychopharmacology
Volume215
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research and the preparation of this manuscript were supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R36 DA024127, T32 DA007304) and the Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (P20 RR015592). The authors do not have any financial relationship with these funding sources and have no conflict of interest to report.

Keywords

  • Benzodiazepine
  • Neurosteroid
  • Performance effects
  • Progesterone
  • Prometrium
  • Subjective effects
  • Triazolam
  • Women's health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Physiological doses of progesterone potentiate the effects of triazolam in healthy, premenopausal women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this