Conditions: Nicotine Dependence Nicotine Withdrawal
Keywords: Nicotine Smoking
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 81
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
Male and female smokers were recruited to undergo 2 phases of smoking cessation. Each phase was 4 days long and involved 3 brain-imaging scans, blood draws and an intervention involving progesterone or a matched placebo.

Detailed description:
The purpose of this study is to learn whether a sex hormone called progesterone is helpful in reducing cigarette smoking and craving for cigarettes. This study also includes brain imaging to measure possible effects of progesterone on certain neurochemicals. These neurochemicals are called gamma-aminobutyric acid (or GABA for short) and glutamate. Both nicotine and progesterone affect these brain chemicals.

Individuals wishing to participate in this study must be medically healthy men or women who smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day or greater. Participants must not suffer from a mental illness or use drugs other than nicotine and marijuana. Participants cannot have any implanted metallic devices such as pacemakers, orthodontic braces, or shrapnel. Participants must not have peanut allergies and must never have had a reaction to progesterone. Finally, participants cannot be taking any medications for anxiety, depression or insomnia.

Arms:
arm 1: Subjects will be prescribed progesterone 200 mg capsules by the study Principal Investigator. Subjects will take 200 mg of progesterone daily for four days. arm 2: Subjects will be prescribed progesterone 200 mg look-alike placebo capsules by the study Principal Investigator. Subjects will take look-alike placebo capsules daily for four days.

Interventions: intervention 1: Progesterone intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Participants will consume four pills of Progesterone over a period of four days. Participants will be asked to remain abstinent from smoking while taking Progesterone. intervention 2: Participants will consume four pills of Placebo over a period of four days. Participants will be asked to remain abstinent from smoking while taking Placebo.

Protocol document:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
Investigator’s Protocol – Version 25 (August 1, 2017)  
 
Principal Investigator: Epperson, CN 
 
 
 
1
 
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine 
 
Multimodal Imaging of 
Progesterone/Neurosteroid Effects  
in Nicotine Addiction 
 
IRB 811940 
 
 
 
Principal Investigator 
 
 
 
 
 
Co-investigators 
Neill Epperson, M.D. 
Department of Psychiatry 
3535 Market Street, Suite 3001 
Philadelphia, PA 19104 
215-573-8871 
 
Ravinder Reddy, Ph.D. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
 
This document is confidential and the property of the University of Pennsylvania. No part of it may be 
transmitted, reproduced, published, or used by other persons without prior written authorization from the 
study sponsor. 


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Abstract 
 
Nicotine addiction is a major public health concern. The purpose of this study is to examine whether 
short-term progesterone administration reduces withdrawal symptoms, cigarette craving, and smoking 
behavior in female and male smokers who abstain from smoking for three days. In addition, we seek to 
determine whether progesterone administration alters brain gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA) levels and 
whether neurotransmitter changes are related to changes in withdrawal, craving, and smoking behavior 
 
Background 
 
Sex differences in response to nicotine 
Recently there has been an increased awareness of how sex affects disease states and drug responses, 
including response to drugs of abuse, in humans. For nicotine response, several recent studies suggest 
differences between men and women. Women, without previous discrimination training, were less able to 
discriminate the effect of nicotine nasal spray on a broad range of doses, compared with men (Perkins, 
1995). Women may also be less able to titrate their smoking in response to changes in cigarette brand or 
with prior nicotine administration, compared with men (Perkins et al., 1992). In addition, among those 
quitting smoking, men but not women, self-administer nicotine nasal spray more than placebo suggesting 
sex differences in reinforcing effects of nicotine (Perkins, 1996). Men and women may also differ in 
suppression of nicotine withdrawal symptoms by nicotine. Others have observed that women had less 
suppression of cigarette withdrawal symptoms with 2 mg nicotine polacrilex, compared with men 
(Hatsukami et al., 1995). Further supporting this observation, several studies reported that female 
smokers might benefit from nicotine replacement treatment for smoking cessation less than men 
(Benowitz and Hatsukami, 1998; Gritz et al., 1996; Wetter et al., 1999). Since nicotine seems to be less 
reinforcing in women, it has been suggested that non-nicotine smoking stimuli may be more reinforcing in 
women, compared with men (Perkins, 1996; Perkins et al., 2002). This idea, if proven, may have 
important treatment implications. Altogether, these studies suggest that women, compared with men, may 
be less sensitive to the subjective and reinforcing effects of nicotine.  
 
Menstrual cycle effects in nicotine dependence 
The menstrual phase effects on nicotine response were investigated in a recent study. No menstrual 
cycle phase effects were observed on the subjective and physiological response to nicotine nasal spray 
(Marks et al., 1999). The main limitation of this study was a large dropout rate, 12 completers out of 35 
enrolled, which limited the power of the study. The tendency of women to be less able to discriminate the 
effects of nicotine nasal spray, compared to men, may also limit the sensitivity of the study to detect 
changes in nicotine response. Further studies are needed to determine whether phase of menstrual cycle 
affects the subjective or reinforcing effects of nicotine.  
 
In contrast to nicotine response, two recent studies reported significant menstrual phase effects in 
response to cocaine and amphetamines. Sofuoglu and colleagues (1999) investigated sex and menstrual 
phase differences in response to single and repeated doses of smoked cocaine in humans. They found 
significant sex differences on subjective ratings of cocaine effects, with women reporting lower ratings 
compared with men. However, when the phase of the menstrual cycle was taken into consideration, a 
clearer picture emerged. Women in the luteal phase reported diminished ratings of subjective effects of 
cocaine, compared with both women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and men. The average 
plasma estradiol and progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase were 156 pg/ml and 6.1 ng/ml, 
respectively. For the follicular phase, the corresponding values were 61 pg/ml and 0.43 ng/ml, 
respectively. These higher progesterone levels in luteal phase, compared to the follicular phase, suggest 
that progesterone may contribute to the diminished response to stimulants during the luteal phase. 
Similar menstrual phase effects were also reported in response to amphetamines in healthy women 
(Justice and de Wit, 1999). Women had diminished subjective response to oral amphetamines during the 
luteal phase, compared with the follicular phase. Whether or not the luteal phase also attenuates the drug 
use behavior has not been investigated. These studies are relevant for nicotine considering the common 
neural substrate, the dopaminergic system, proposed to mediate the reinforcing effects of stimulants 
(Pich et al., 1997).  
 


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Principal Investigator: Epperson, CN 
 
 
 
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Menstrual cycle phase may also affect the severity of tobacco withdrawal symptoms. One study reported 
greater withdrawal symptoms in women who abstained from smoking during the late luteal phase than 
either women in the mid-cycle or men (Craig et al., 1992). A number of other studies also reported 
increased intensity of tobacco withdrawal symptoms from abstinence during the late luteal phase (4-5 
days before menses) (Allen et al., 2000; DeBon et al., 1995; O'Hara et al., 1989; Pomerleau et al., 1992; 
Sofuoglu et al., 2001), another study showed increased withdrawal during the luteal phase (Perkins et al., 
2000). Although other studies showed no menstrual cycle effects on tobacco withdrawal severity, (Allen et 
al., 1999; Pomerleau et al., 1994b) menstrual cycle phase may also affect smoking behavior in women. 
Around menses and during the late luteal phase, increased smoking behavior was reported in some 
(DeBon et al., 1995; Mello et al., 1987; Pomerleau et al., 1992; Snively et al., 2000; Steinberg and 
Cherek, 1989) but not in other studies (Allen et al., 1996; Pomerleau et al., 1994b). Altogether, these 
results suggest that menstrual phase may affect nicotine withdrawal symptoms and perhaps smoking 
behavior in female smokers. The main limitation of these studies examining menstrual cycle phase effects 
is the use of various and sometimes imprecise terms and methods to define the phases of the menstrual 
cycle which makes it difficult to compare the findings from these studies.  
 
The increased severity of tobacco withdrawal symptoms and the smoking behavior in late luteal phase or 
menses, coincides with rapid decrease in plasma estradiol and progesterone levels suggesting hormonal 
influence on the severity of withdrawal symptoms and possibly on smoking behavior. Unfortunately, little 
is known about the hormonal mechanisms that mediate the menstrual cycle phase effects on tobacco 
withdrawal symptoms or smoking behavior. To determine the hormonal mechanisms of menstrual cycle 
effects, a reasonable approach is to administer sex hormones, estradiol and progesterone, to normally 
menstruating women and characterize the dose-related effects of these hormones on selected outcomes. 
The main difficulty with this approach is the interaction of exogenous sex hormones with endogenous 
estradiol and progesterone that fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. That is, estradiol or progesterone 
treatment given during the follicular or luteal phase is expected to have different effects because the 
endogenous levels of estradiol and progesterone highly vary in these phases. This problem is in large 
part resolved by administering exogenous hormones in the early to mid follicular phase when 
endogenous levels of estradiol and progesterone are at their nadir.  
 
Early follicular phase to study the effects of sex hormones 
The early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is defined as the first 7 days after the onset of menses. 
While the endogenous estradiol levels are low and remain stable, below 85 pg/ml, during the early 
follicular phase, their levels start to increase, up to 400 pg/ml, during the late follicular phase, 8-13 days 
after the onset of menses. The progesterone levels remain low throughout the follicular phase, below 1.1 
ng/ml (Speroff et al., 2007). The low and stable levels of estradiol and progesterone in the early follicular 
phase minimize the interaction between the endogenous and exogenous sex hormones. In addition, 
disruption of the menstrual cycle or withdrawal bleeding are unlikely to occur since the endogenous 
estradiol levels are minimal. Several studies have used early follicular phase to administer exogenous 
estradiol or progesterone to normally menstruating women. In a series of studies, Tan et al. administered 
estradiol and progesterone for six days to women in the early follicular phase during two consecutive 
cycles (Tan et al., 1996; 1997b) and progesterone to healthy males (Tan et al., 1997a). More recently 
Justice and deWitt (2000b) used a similar approach to examine the effects of estradiol patch treatment on 
amphetamine response during the early follicular phase of two consecutive menstrual cycles. In our pilot 
studies, we examined the feasibility of administering progesterone treatment during the early follicular 
phase of the menstrual cycle to female smokers (Sofuoglu et al., 2001) and female cocaine users 
(Sofuoglu et al., 2002a). These results suggest that the low and stable endogenous estradiol and 
progesterone levels during the early follicular phase provide a unique opportunity to administer 
exogenous sex hormones to normally menstruating women.  
 


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1 
Study Objectives  
1.1 
Overall Objectives 
The overarching goal of this study is to examine progesterone's effects on brain GABA concentrations 
and to determine whether these neurochemical changes are related to behavioral changes/experiences 
typically observed in individuals with nicotine addiction who are undergoing short-term abstinence. 
1.2 
Primary Outcome Variable(s)  
Occipital cortex GABA concentrations pre and post progesterone and placebo administration. GABA 
concentrations will be obtained using the non-invasive neuroimaging method of proton magnetic 
resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) both before and after progesterone and placebo administration and 
smoking abstinence. We will also administer an fMRI task called the N-back and measure BOLD signal 
and an fMRI task called the cue task, in addition to a resting state task where participants are asked to 
focus on a crosshair symbol. In total subjects will undergo 3 combined 1H-MRS and fMRI scans during 
each study phase over a period of approximately 1 month for men and approximately 2 to 4 months for 
women.  
1.3 
Secondary outcome variable(s) 
Withdrawal symptoms will be measured using the Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms Checklist (NWSC). 
Craving will be assessed using the Brief Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (BQSU) and mood will be 
assessed with the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS), 
the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The above secondary 
outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, on the day of scans, and at each abstinence check-in 
with research staff. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D), adverse events 
form (AEF), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, and Tiffany QSU will also be included 
as secondary outcome variables. Premenstrual syndrome symptoms will be assessed daily throughout all 
study phases using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP).  
2 
Study Design 
2.1 
General Design 
This project seeks to determine, during a 3-day period of abstinence, whether progesterone 200 mg/d 
administration for four days modulates cortical amino acid concentration as measured using proton 
magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), reduces withdrawal symptoms and cigarette craving and 
alters smoking behavior in male and female smokers. This study utilizes a double-blind, randomized 
placebo-controlled, cross-over design. We will recruit 75 female and 75 male smokers who are between 
the ages of 18 and 50. Subjects will be recruited from flyers posted around campus, direct home mailings, 
collaborations with our Penn TTURC investigators, the Penn Data Store service to identify potential 
subjects to be sent a recruitment email and eligibility survey, and paid advertisements. Study subjects will 
be screened first by phone by a member of the research staff who can gauge whether the caller is likely 
to meet study criteria. Callers will be informed that this is not a treatment study and all subjects who report 
that they are treatment seeking will be given the number for our TTURC colleagues who are in charge of 
treatment studies being conducted at that time.  
 
Callers who appear to meet criteria and express an interest in the study will be invited to undergo an in-
office screening which will require approximately 2 hours. Participants who report for an in-office 
screening will first be read a verbal consent form for pre-screening procedures. Pre-screening procedures 
include breath carbon monoxide level and urine drug screen. Participants have the right to decline pre-
screening procedures and complete these procedures after full consent. Should the participant not be 
qualified based on pre-screening procedures, the records will be destroyed and they will be dismissed 
from the study visit. If the participants are eligible based on pre-screening procedures, full, written ICF will 
be reviewed and signed with the study CRC. After giving full written informed consent, subjects will 
undergo a structured psychiatric evaluation using the SCID-IV Non-Patient and several behavioral ratings 
and questionnaires concerning personal history. The Fagerstrom scale and urine cotinine level will be 


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Principal Investigator: Epperson, CN 
 
 
 
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used to assess degree of nicotine addiction. Women must complete the Daily Record of Severity of 
Problems (DRSP) daily throughout all study test phases and during washout to assess presence of 
premenstrual symptoms. Women who have not had a menstrual cycle for 6 months or more at screening 
will not be asked to complete the DRSP during study participation because they do not experience mood 
symptoms revolving around a menstrual cycle. Women will also complete a pregnancy test at screening.  
 
Upon completion of the screening visit, subjects will be scheduled to undergo their first ad-lib smoking 
and combined 1H-MRS and fMRI scan sessions. Women experiencing a menstrual cycle will be scanned 
during the early-mid follicular phase of the menstrual cycle for two cycles. Menstrual cycle phase will be 
determined by report of last menstrual period, typical menstrual cycle length, and report of onset of 
menstrual flow. Once onset of flow has been reported, best effort will be made to schedule women for 
their first smoking and scan sessions between Day 2 and Day 8 with first day of menstrual flow 
designated as Day 1. Men and non-menstruating women will be scheduled to undergo 2 testing sessions, 
approximately one- to two-weeks apart. 
 
To obtain a baseline assessment of smoking behavior, subjects will present for their first smoking session 
prior to their first 1H-MRS and fMRI scan session. This smoking session will be considered Test Day 1. A 
blood sample and urine sample for cotinine levels will be completed at this visit. They will be seated 
comfortably and given a series of ratings to assess mood, anxiety, nicotine craving, and withdrawal. Ad-
lib smoking sessions will last 2 hours and subjects will smoke their cigarette brand of choice. Subjects will 
smoke through a plastic cigarette holder fitted to the filter end of a cigarette connected to a smoking 
topography device (CreSS from Plowshare Technologies). This device will assess the smoking 
topography (e.g., puff frequency, puff volume, puff duration, inter-puff interval, maximum flow rate, and 
inter-cigarette interval). Upon completion of the smoking session, subjects will complete additional 
questionnaires. CO level will also be assessed pre- and post- smoking session. 
 
In preparation for their first scan day, subjects are instructed to smoke as usual but to make sure that they 
have at least one cigarette upon awakening and to have their last cigarette right before entering the 
Stellar-Chance Laboratories where the Center for Magnetic Resonance and Optical Imaging (CMROI) is 
located. This final cigarette will insure that subjects are not in nicotine withdrawal at their baseline scan. 
CO level will be assessed immediately following the completion of the participant’s final cigarette. 
Subjects may be asked to abstain from consuming alcohol the evening before scan sessions at the 
principal investigator’s discretion.  
 
Prior to undergoing scans on Test Day 2, subjects will complete behavioral questionnaires to assess 
mood, anxiety, nicotine craving, and withdrawal. Subjects will also provide blood samples. They will then 
undergo a baseline 1H-MRS and fMRI scan, which requires approximately 90 minutes. They will be taken 
out of the scanner and asked to self-administer either the oral micronized progesterone (Prometrium) 200 
mg or a look-alike placebo capsule. Immediately after, subjects will be given a meal, as food enhances 
the absorption of progesterone. Neither the subject nor the Study Coordinator will know to which group 
the subject is assigned. After a time period up to 3 hours the subject will undergo a second 1H-MRS and 
fMRI scan which requires approximately 90 minutes. The subject will complete additional questionnaires 
and another blood draw, and they will then be discharged from Test Day 2. 
 
Prior to the participant’s first dose of study medication, a supplemental informed consent form pertaining 
to the study medication and placebo will be reviewed with the participant and signed by a physician listed 
on this study protocol.  
 
All subjects will be met by a member of the study staff twice on Test Days 3 and 4 (morning and 
afternoon) and once (morning) on Day 5 prior to the chronic treatment scan session to assess abstinence 
(expired breath CO less than 10 ppm or a continually decreasing CO level during days 3-5 that is greater 
than 10) and to obtain behavioral measures. At the morning visits on Test Days 3 and 4, participants will 
self-administer the progesterone or placebo medication.  
 
On Test Day 5, subjects are asked to present to the PCWBW to self-administer their final dose of 
medication. Breakfast will be provided to them. Abstinence will be assessed via CO level prior to the post-


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treatment scan. The study staff will then escort the participant to CMROI for their post-treatment 1H-MRS 
and fMRI scan which requires approximately 90 minutes. Upon completion of the second scan session, 
subjects will be escorted again to the testing laboratory where they will undergo a second 2-hour ad lib 
smoking session. Expired breath CO level will be assessed again prior to the smoking session to ensure 
continued abstinence prior to this session. Blood samples and a urine sample will be obtained prior to the 
subject’s smoking session on Test Day 5.  
 
All subjects complete behavioral ratings to assess mood, anxiety, nicotine craving and withdrawal as well 
as expired breath CO level at all study visits. 
 
Upon completion of Test Day 5, all male subjects will then undergo an approximately one- to two-week 
wash-out and all menstruating female subjects will undergo an approximately 1-3 month wash-out. 
Subjects will then cross over to the other treatment condition. Upon crossover, the study procedures 
described above with be repeated. Women will be asked to provide a urine sample for a pregnancy test 
before continuing to the second paradigm. 
 
The primary investigator and research staff will unblind themselves to the drug treatment that was 
administered in each study phase upon each participant’s completion or discharge from the study. The 
research staff will unblind the participant by reviewing lab work that reveals progesterone levels at each 
phase of the study. Research staff will also reach out to IDS to confirm the nature of each participant’s 
randomization schedule.  
 
NOTE: GABA data will not be obtained at the 3T MRI scanner because proton magnetic resonance 
spectroscopy is not reliable on the 3-tesla magnet. Only the fMRI tasks and resting state will be 
completed at 3T. Retrieval of GABA data will be resumed when the new 7T MRI scanner at Stellar 
Chance is obtained. The estimated date for when the study will be able to resume at 7T is in the summer 
of 2017.  
2.2 
1H-MRS Methods 
All experiments will be performed on a Siemens 3T PRISMA system with any of the Seimens product 
coils suitable for brain studies and CAMRIS approved RF pulse sequence adapted from that Greutter's 
group at the University of Minnesota (Terpstra et al., 2002). Side-to-side head movements will be 
minimized by placing foam pads between the volunteer’s ears and the volume coil. GABA data will be 
acquired using the MEGAPRESS pulse sequence and from 15 to 40 ml volumes with echo times of 70 
ms and recycle delays of 3-5 seconds to obtain the best signal to noise. Two thousand and forty-eight 
complex points will be sampled with a receiver bandwidth at 2 kHz. Prior to FFT, J-difference time-domain 
spectra will be apodized with a 3.5-Hz exponential function. Selective inversions will be achieved with 
15.64-20 ms pulses at the 1.91-ppm C-3 resonance of GABA on odd-numbered acquisitions and at a 
position symmetric about the water resonance on even-numbered acquisitions in order to reduce baseline 
artifact. CHESS pulse will be applied for water suppression.  
2.3 
Medication Administration 
Subjects will be prescribed progesterone 200 mg capsules or a look alike placebo by the study PI 
(Epperson, M.D.) or another doctor listed on this protocol. Subjects will take 200 mg of progesterone or a 
placebo pill daily for 4 days. 
2.4 
Compensation  
 
If the participant completes all parts of the study, is on time for appointments, takes their medication, and 
does not smoke during the abstinence period, total payment for participation is $1,350. Pre- and peri-
menopausal women who are asked to complete the DRSP can receive up to $1,450 in total 
compensation. Participants will also be provided with lunch on Test Day 2 and breakfast on Test Day 5 of 
both Phases 1 and 2.  
 
The breakdown of subject payment is as follows. 


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Principal Investigator: Epperson, CN 
 
 
 
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Visit Name 
Amount 
Notes 
Screening 
$50 
Contingent upon eligibility 
Phases 1 & 2 
Test Day 1 
$50 
 
Test Day 2 
$250 
 
Test Day 3 
AM - $12.50, PM - $12.50 
If participant: 
• 
Self-reports a break in abstinence, 
• 
Their breath CO level is not continuously 
decreasing  
• 
Or within a non-smoking range (10 ppm) 
at abstinence check-in (beyond what 
could be attributed to contamination from 
environmental factors) 
The participant will receive $5.00 instead of 
$12.50 for that check-in visit.  
If participant’s tests and self-report indicate 
abstinence prior to subsequent check-ins, 
payment will return to full $12.50 amount.  
Test Day 4 
AM - $12.50, PM - $12.50 
See above.  
Test Day 5 
$150 
Breath CO prior to scan and smoking session 
will confirm continued abstinence. If 
participant: 
• 
Self-reports a break in abstinence, 
• 
Their breath CO level is not continuously 
decreasing  
• 
Or within a non-smoking range (10 ppm) 
at abstinence check-in (beyond what 
could be attributed to contamination from 
environmental factors) 
The participant will receive $10 for post-
treatment smoking session and $25 for post-
treatment scan ($35 total).  
 
If participants complete all of Test Phase 1, they will receive an additional payment of $100. If participants 
continue on to complete all procedures in Test Phase 2, they will receive an additional payment of $200.  
 
Females participating in the study who are given the DRSP will be given a $100 payment for completing a 
DRSP for the duration of study participation (beginning Phase 1, Test day 1 and ending Phase 2, Test 
Day 5). 
 
2.5 
Study duration 
We anticipate completion of recruitment within 5 years of study inception. Each subject will spend 
approximately 2-4 months completing all study related procedures.  
3 
Subject Selection and Withdrawal 
3.1 
Target Population 
We will recruit 75 male and 75 female with nicotine addiction for at least 1 year. We anticipate a dropout 
rate of at least 4 subjects per group and have planned accordingly. Thus, we anticipate being able to 


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enroll a socioeconomically and racial/ethnically diverse group such that the composition of the proposed 
study population will reflect the greater Philadelphia referral base. The projected composition from 
Philadelphia is African American 42.58%, Hispanic 8.5%, Asian 4.42%, Other 2.04% and White, not of 
Hispanic Origin, 42.46%. The size of our expected sample may allow us to detect effects due to ethnicity 
or minority status.  
3.2 
Accrual 
For our primary outcome variable--GABA concentration: Based upon pilot data from our group examining 
the acute effects of progesterone 800 mg administration on healthy human subjects, we anticipate that an 
acute dose of progesterone will alter GABA concentrations by approximately 15% on average. We will 
conservatively estimate a 10% reduction in occipital GABA concentration. In order to detect a 10% 
change in GABA concentrations with a power of 80% and an alpha of 0.05 we will need to study 28 male 
and 28 female smokers. As this study can be time consuming, we will expect a 10-15% drop out rate 
between study sessions. This study’s inclusion/exclusion criterion may also account for some drop-off 
after the initial screening visit. Thus, we will recruit 75 male and 75 female subjects for a total of 150 
subjects. 
 
We anticipate being able to recruit this number of subjects within a 24-month period of time based upon 
our discussions with TTURC collaborators. In fact, many of the subjects waiting to participate in their 
treatment study could participate in our neuroimaging prior. 
 
3.3 
Key inclusion criteria  
1. Female and male smokers, aged 18 to 50 years;  
2. History of smoking greater than or equal to 10 cigarettes daily for the past year, as per self-report 
(periods of smoking abstinence within the last year will be exclusionary at PI discretion);  
3. Not seeking treatment at the time of the study for nicotine dependence; 
4. Have a FNTQ score of at least 3 and CO level greater than or equal to 11ppm; 
5. In good health as verified by self-reported medical history;  
6. Clean urine drug screen, (marijuana and nicotine are permissible); 
7. For women, not pregnant as determined by pregnancy screening or breast feeding 
3.4 
Key exclusion criteria 
1. History of major medical illnesses; including liver diseases, abnormal vaginal bleeding, suspected 
or known malignancy, thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, clotting or 
bleeding disorders, heart disease, diabetes, history of stroke or other medical conditions that the 
physician investigator deems as contraindicated for the patient to be in the study, as determined 
by participant self-report;  
2. Regular use of psychotropic medication (antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anxiolytics), as per 
self-report, and recent (within previous year) psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for Axis I 
disorders including major depression, bipolar affective disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, 
post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder, as determined by clinician administered SCID 
interview;  
3. Lifetime history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, as per SCID interview 
4. Lifetime substance dependence disorder, excepting nicotine, alcohol and marijuana, as per SCID 
interview 
5. Substance use disorders within the previous 2 years, excepting nicotine, as per SCID interview  
6. Regular use of any other tobacco products than cigarettes, including smokeless tobacco and 
nicotine products, as per self-report;  
7. Known allergy to progesterone or peanuts (vehicle for micronized progesterone), as per self-
report. 


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3.5 
Subject Recruitment  
Subjects will be recruited by word of mouth, referral by other colleagues who study nicotine addiction, 
direct mailings, flyers/brochures, the Penn Data Store service to identify potential subjects to be sent a 
recruitment email and eligibility survey, and paid advertisements. 
4 
Analysis Plan 
4.1 
Statistical Analysis 
The independent variables will be treatment and sex. For treatment there will be 2 levels: progesterone 
(200 mg/day) or placebo. Sex will have 2 levels: male and female. 
 
The primary dependent variables will be 1) GABA concentrations (see note in Study Design), 2) 
measures of smoking behavior: alveolar carbon monoxide, and smoking topography variables (number of 
cigarettes, puff number, puff volume, puff duration and inter-puff interval), and 3) tobacco withdrawal 
symptoms measured with nicotine withdrawal symptom checklist (NWSC).  
 
The secondary dependent variables will include progesterone and estradiol levels, Profile of Mood States 
(POMS), Positive and Negative Affect Scales (PANAS), Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms Checklist 
(NWSC), Brief Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (BQSU), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual 
Analogue Scale (VAS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D), Tiffany QSU, Daily 
Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP), adverse events form (AEF), and Daily Record of Severity of 
Problems (DRSP).  
 
The analysis will include only data from subjects who complete the study, were compliant with the study 
medication and abstinent from smoking. Based on our previous experience with similar studies, the 
dropouts are expected to occur early in study participation. For this reason we are not proposing detailed 
methods to handle missing data which are more appropriate for outpatient clinical trials. However, if we 
have a dropout rate over 20 percent, we will conduct a sensitivity analysis (Verbeke and Molenberghs, 
2000) to examine the influence of missing data on our statistical model.  
 
The primary analysis of the data will be done with analysis of variance. In this model, the main effect of 
treatment (progesterone versus placebo), sex (male vs. female) and the interaction between treatment 
and sex will be analyzed. Standard F-tests from the analysis of variance will be used to assess 
significance of treatment effects on GABA concentrations. Post hoc analyses will be conducted where 
significant differences are found, using Bonferroni adjustments and/or Dunnett multiple-comparison tests 
to preserve the overall experiment wise error rate in the case of multiple testing. Secondary dependent 
variables including progesterone and estradiol levels, POMS, PANAS/NWSC/BQSU,CES-D, Tiffany QSU, 
AEF, and DRSP, will be examined in an analogous fashion to the primary outcome variable. 
 
In addition, regression analysis will be conducted using plasma progesterone concentrations as a 
predictor of GABA concentrations, tobacco withdrawal symptoms, and craving. Likewise, GABA 
concentrations will be used as a predictor of tobacco withdrawal symptoms, nicotine craving, smoking 
topology, nicotine liking and mood. 
4.2 
Rationale for sample size 
 
NOTE: As per updated funding requirements in 2015 and as approved by the study Sponsor, we have 
increased recruitment numbers to 150 participants to account for a high number of incomplete and 
ineligible participants. The information below pertains to the original grant submission and original 
recruitment numbers.  
 
Sample size is estimated for the 3 primary outcome measures: GABA concentrations, tobacco withdrawal 
symptoms, nicotine craving, smoking topology and subjective effects of nicotine. 
 


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GABA concentration: Based upon pilot data from our group examining the acute effects of progesterone 
600 mg administration on healthy human subjects, we anticipate that an acute dose of progesterone will 
alter GABA concentrations by approximately 15% on average. We will conservatively estimate a 10% 
reduction in occipital GABA concentration. In order to detect a 10% change in GABA concentrations with 
a power of 80 % and an alpha of 0.05 we will need to study 28 male and 28 female smokers. As this 
study can be time consuming, we will expect a 10-15% drop out rate between study sessions. Thus, we 
will recruit 32 male and 32 female subjects for a total of 64 subjects  
 
Smoking behavior: Power analysis for the study is based on progesterone effects on smoking self-
administration session, from Sofuoglu et al, 2001. In that study, under placebo treatment, an average of 
3.8 out of 10 reinforcers were earned for puffs of cigarettes. Under progesterone treatment, the average 
exchange rate was 2.3. With a SD of difference 2.7, an alpha level of 0.05, an unpaired t-test indicates a 
power of 80 percent for 28 male and 28 female subjects. 
 
Subjective effects of smoking: Similar to the smoking behavior, power analysis for subjective effects will 
be based on our pilot data. One of the Nicotine Effects Questionnaire items, Good Effects was used for 
power analysis. Under placebo treatment the average rating following sample smoking was 65.9. The 
corresponding value was 51.1 under progesterone treatment. With a SD of difference 18.9, an alpha level 
of 0.05, an unpaired t-test indicates a power of 97 percent for 28 female and 28 male subjects.  
 
Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms: From our pilot data, one of the tobacco withdrawal symptoms, Craving 
for cigarettes, was used for power analysis. Under placebo treatment the average rating for this item was 
3.1 following sample smoking. The corresponding value was 2.5 under progesterone treatment. With a 
SD of difference 0.79, an alpha level of 0.05, an unpaired t-test indicates a power close to 90 percent for 
28 female and 28 male subjects. 
5 
Safety and Adverse Events 
5.1 
Potential Risks  
Risks of Progesterone: Progesterone administration can cause sleepiness, nausea, fatigue, and 
headaches in men and women, and menstrual irregularity, spotting or breakthrough vaginal bleeding, and 
breast tenderness in women. Use of progesterone simultaneous to use of contraceptives is highly unlikely 
to lead to adverse health outcomes or interfere with contraceptive efficacy. Other less common side 
effects include depression, blockage of blood vessels, and increased risk for heart attack or stroke. 
However, these side effects mostly occur after long-term use of progesterone and are unlikely to occur 
with 4 days of treatment. The effects of progesterone and nicotine combined are not known. 
 
Risks of 1H-MRS Operating at 3T: To date no persistent adverse effects have been reported by facilities 
with magnetic field strengths at 3.0T.  
 
Functional Imaging Tests: It is possible that staring at the projected screen during tasks could 
result in some eyestrain, mild headache, or nausea, however this unlikely. If subjects begin to feel 
uncomfortable while viewing the screen during tasks, they may look away and let the research 
staff know of their discomfort.  
 
Flying Object Clause: The known risks associated with this study are minimal. The greatest risk 
is a metallic object flying through the air toward the magnet and hitting an employee or patient. To 
reduce this risk we require that all people involved with the study remove all metal from their 
clothing and all metal objects from their pockets. No metal objects are allowed to be brought into 
the magnet room at any time. In addition, once a patient is in the magnet, the door to the room 
will be closed so that no one inadvertently walks into the magnet.  
 
Experimental Device Clause: Some of the pulse sequences and/or RF coils are not FDA 
approved but are considered non-significant risk investigational devices. 
 


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Pregnancy Clause: Although there are no known risks of MRI on pregnant women or a fetus, 
there is a possibility of yet undiscovered pregnancy related risks. Since there is no direct benefit 
from participating in this protocol for a pregnant woman, we will exclude pregnant women. 
Attestation of pregnancy suffices as evidence that the participant is not pregnant at the time of an 
MRI scan.  
 
Magnetic Field Risk Statement: Because the magnetic field of the MRI scanner attracts metal, 
these studies will not be performed on anyone with a pacemaker or any non-removable metallic 
foreign objects in their body. The use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and  subdermal implants has 
not shown to present any risk when operating at a 3T MRI. (Zeiman and Kanal, 2007; Kaunitz. 
2012; Correia, 2012).  
 
Health Risk Statement: There are no known health risks associated with exposure to magnetic 
fields during an MRI. There are minimal risks from the loud noise associated with the MRI 
scanner and from the discomfort of lying on a hard surface. We shall provide subjects with 
protective earplugs as necessary and make every attempt to ensure their comfort during their 
time in the scanner. The MRI performed under this protocol is not for medical purposes and the 
images are not planned to be interpreted by a physician  
 
Clinician Administered Interview: Subjects will be administered the SCID-NP at the screening visit. The 
risk associated with administering this type of interview is minimal; however, subjects may find it upsetting 
to discover that they have a psychiatric diagnosis of which they were unaware. As research staff 
associated with this study have training regarding how to screen for the presence of psychiatric disorders, 
it is unlikely that a subject with a psychiatric diagnosis would not be identified during the initial phone 
screen and thus present for the in-office screen and SCID interview. If this were to occur however, the 
study PI would be available to speak at length with the individual in question and make appropriate 
recommendations and referrals for follow up care. 
 
Blood Drawing: Blood drawing may cause fainting, bruising, discomfort, or rarely, infection. A total of one 
half of a cup of blood will be drawn over the course of the entire study. There will be a total of 8 blood 
draws during the study: four during Phase 1 and four during Phase 2. 
 
Smoking Abstinence: Stopping smoking causes a nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine is the main ingredient in 
cigarettes. Nicotine withdrawal can cause changes in mood such as sadness, irritability, nervousness, 
and anxiety. During the smoking abstinence portion of the study, we will help him or her by providing 
contingency management. This plan provides daily support during the contingency management Test 
Days of Phases 1 and 2 and involves daily check in visits to measure carbon monoxide levels. During 
these visits, subjects are encouraged to talk about their cravings, mood symptoms, and any difficulties 
that they have been experiencing. Subjects will be provided with ideas to help reduce cigarette cravings. 
We will ask subjects to alert us right away if they are feeling very depressed or down. If anyone feels this 
way after office hours, they will be instructed to please call 911 and ask for assistance.  
 
For Women of Childbearing Age: Since this research may have bad effects on a fetus and should not 
be done during pregnancy, it is necessary that a pregnancy test be done first. In order for female subjects 
to participate in this study, they must report that to their knowledge they are not pregnant at the present 
time. They will also agree to avoid becoming pregnant (i.e., to use an acceptable method of contraceptive 
such as condoms, and to take precautions against becoming pregnant) during the study. We will do a 
pregnancy test during the screening visit and before subjects start Phase 1 and Phase 2. Since this 
research may have bad effects on a newborn, female subjects agree not to breastfeed during the study 
participation. 
 
Genetic Testing: In the laboratory, genetics samples will be labeled with a number only. Subject name or 
any other identifying information will not be attached to the samples in the research laboratory. This 
measure is taken to protect confidentiality, in addition to the following specific measures: 
 


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12
a) The genetic testing of all samples will be used for research purposes only. No results of 
genetic testing from this study will appear in any subject’s medical record. 
b) Genetic test results will not be made available to subjects, to their doctors, or to other 
clinicians or any other clinical staff.  
c) To protect confidentiality as much as possible, no computer records will be created that 
could be used to identify a subject’s genetic or medical information individually. Thus, 
even if a “hacker” breaks into the laboratory computer system, there will be no information 
stored there that can identify any individual subject.  
d) Information about your genes will only be stored in Dr. Epperson’s laboratory, using 
procedures described above to protect your confidentiality, unless the information has 
become completely stripped of information that could identify an individual subject.  
 
 
In our experience at a previous academic institution, in which many hundreds of samples have been 
collected, no outside agency has ever tried to gain access to any research subject’s genetics samples. 
Dr. Epperson believes that the risk of this happening to any sample collected as part of this study is 
extremely small. 
 
The goal of the genetics testing for this study is exploratory, not predictive: we seek to examine the 
interaction between genetic makeup and nicotine addiction.  
5.2 
Potential Study Benefits 
There are no direct benefits for subjects in this study.  Their participation may benefit individuals with 
nicotine addiction if these data indicate that progesterone has benefits on withdrawal symptoms, cravings 
and smoking behavior. 
5.3 
Risk/Benefit Assessment  
This study represents more than minimal risk to the subject as individuals will undergo neuroimaging and 
treatment with progesterone which they may not have otherwise taken. Should this study show that 
progesterone administration improves outcomes of interest and are correlated with changes in brain 
GABA and glutamate concentrations, we will have additional evidence that this hormone and 
neurotransmitter system may be targets for the treatment of nicotine addiction. 
5.4 
Data Safety and Monitoring 
 
Reporting of AEs and SAEs  
Dr. Epperson, the study PI, is required by the study sponsor, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to 
have a Data and Safety Monitoring Plan (DSMP).  That plan is briefly detailed below.  The full DSMP is 
attached to this protocol submission. 
 
 
Reporting of IRB Actions to NIDA 
Should the Penn IRB take action regarding this protocol, the PI and Penn IRB officials will notify the 
projects program officer within 48 business hours. 
  
Report of Changes or Amendments to the Protocol 
Any change that is recommended by the IRB out of concerns for patient safety will be reported to NIDA 
when the change has been approved by the Penn IRB. 
 
Trial Stopping Rules 
If there is a SAE that is a direct result of study participation that results in loss of life, serious illness or 
morbidity, the trial will be halted.   
 
Disclosure of Any Conflict of Interest to the DSM 


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Faculty are required to report relationships with outside entities, in particular those involving financial 
remuneration, as potential conflicts of interest to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on a 
yearly basis. 
 
5.5 
Resources Necessary for Human Research Protection 
Dr. Epperson, the study Principal Investigator, has more than 15 years of experience conducting 
translational neuroscience research in human subjects focusing on the impact of sex hormones and 
neurosteroids on behavior and cognition in women.  Dr. Epperson is the recipient of 3 R01 grants from 
the NIMH, NIDA and NIA.  She is also the recipient of several K awards from the NIH.  Dr. Epperson has 
extensive experience overseeing the conduct of research in her laboratory.  She is personally responsible 
for all aspects of the study or delegation of duties to individuals she has trained over the years. 
 
Males and females will be recruited for this study by flyers, and paid and unpaid advertising.  Dr. 
Epperson also collaborates with investigators in the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (PI: 
C. Lerman) here at Penn.  Individuals may be referred from TTURC studies to the one proposed herein if 
appropriate. 
 
If an individual were to demonstrate the need for mental health services, they would first be referred to 
the PCWBW for evaluation by one of the Center's psychologists or psychiatrists.  An appropriate 
treatment plan and/or referral would be developed as necessary.  The PCWBW is housed in a large office 
building with 24-hour security. The Center's main offices at 3535 Market Street are comprised of 8 clinical 
offices, one laboratory space, copy, fax and mail room, reception area and kitchen.  In addition, there is 
both clinical and administrative space at Pennsylvania Hospital in the same area as Maternal Fetal 
Medicine outpatient services.   
6 
Data Handling and Record Keeping 
6.1 
Subject Confidentiality  
All subjects will be given a unique identifier to place on each of their questionnaires and behavioral 
ratings.  Data from scan sessions will also be coded with this unique identifier.  Only the project PI, the 
Project Supervisor and the Project Coordinator will have access to the code which will be kept in a locked 
file cabinet in a locked room.  Five years after completion of the study, the subject code will be destroyed.  
Data will be destroyed 8 years after study completion. 
7 
Investigational Agent 
7.1 
Investigational Agent 
– 
Drug name: progesterone, Prometrium® 
– 
Pharmacological class: Steroid hormone; Subclass: Progestin 
– 
Structural formula (if known):  
 
 
 
 
 
– 
Prometrium capsules contain micronized progesterone that has a molecular weight of 314.47 
and a molecular formula of C21H30O2. Progesterone (pregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione) is a white or creamy 
white, odorless, crystalline powder practically insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, acetone and 
dioxane and sparingly soluble in vegetable oils, stable in air, melting between 126 and 131 C. 
Progesterone is synthesized from a starting material from a plant source and is chemically identical 
to progesterone of human ovarian origin. Inactive ingredients for Prometrium Capsules 100 mg 
include: peanut oil NF, gelatin NF, glycerin USP, lecithin NF, titanium dioxide USP, D&C Yellow No. 


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10, and FD&C Red No. 40. Inactive ingredients for Prometrium Capsules 200 mg include: peanut 
oil NF, gelatin NF, glycerin USP, lecithin NF, titanium dioxide USP, D&C yellow No. 10 and FD&C 
Yellow No 6.  
– 
After oral administration of progesterone as a micronized soft-gelatin capsule formulation, 
maximum serum concentrations were attained within 3 hours. The absolute bioavailability of 
micronized progesterone is not known,  
– 
Formulation and dose: Capsules 100 mg and 200 mg as a micronized soft gelatin capsule 
formulation 
– 
Route of Administration: Oral PO 
 
Planned exposure (e.g. duration of study drug administration): Healthy, smoking adults, (age range 
18-50 years) without psychiatric or substance use history will be enrolled in this study to assess the 
impact of progesterone administration on GABA in individuals with nicotine addiction using a 3T 
magnet. In addition, we will explore the impact of 4 daily doses of progesterone 200 mg on 
subjective reports of craving and smoking behavior in smokers who are requested to abstain from 
smoking for 3 days. The 4 daily doses of progesterone will be administered in 200 mg capsules on 
Test Days 2-5.  
7.2 
Overview of Previous Human Experience—Progesterone and Nicotine Effects 
Sofuoglu and colleagues (2001) previously studied the direct effects of oral progesterone treatment on 
smoking behavior in female smokers. In each experimental session, following overnight abstinence from 
smoking, subjects received a single 200 mg dose of progesterone or placebo, orally. Two and a half 
hours after the medication treatment, subjects were assessed for subjective response to two puffs of a 
cigarette and then started the self-administration period, in which every 15 minutes, they had the option to 
exchange their earned token for two puffs of a cigarette or money. Progesterone treatment attenuated 
subjective rating of good effects of smoking the first cigarette and craving for cigarettes following 
overnight abstinence. The first cigarette following abstinence is regarded to be highly rewarding and 
linked to relapse in smokers trying to quit (Kenford et al., 1994). The progesterone effects on the 
subjective rewarding effects of smoking and craving for cigarettes suggested that this hormone may have 
significant effects on smoking behavior and tobacco withdrawal symptoms. More recently Sofuoglu et al. 
(in press) studied the effects of two doses of progesterone 200 mg/d and 400 mg/d versus placebo on 
measures of attention (Stroop and Digit Symbol Substitution Test) and smoking urges in 35 female and 
34 male smokers. The 200 mg/d dose improved cognitive performance, while the 400 mg/d dose reduced 
smoking urges. All subject tolerated both dosages without serious adverse events. There were no effects 
of progesterone administration on mood, and only modest effects on blood pressure and heart rate, 
reducing heart rate in males and diastolic blood pressure in females. 
 
The same group conducted a similar preliminary study to examine the progesterone effects on smoked 
cocaine responses in which cocaine-dependent women, following progesterone or placebo treatment, 
received three deliveries of 0.4 mg/kg smoked cocaine, 30 min apart. Progesterone treatment attenuated 
some of the subjective effects of cocaine further suggesting that progesterone may effect mediation of 
reward by psychostimulants (Sofuoglu et al., 2002a). Preclinical studies provide possible mechanisms to 
explain these findings. Progesterone has wide-ranging effects in the brain including the activation of 
GABA type A receptors (Majewska, 1992). Progesterone also affects the dopaminergic system, a 
neurotransmitter system, which is implicated to be an important neural substrate for both the reinforcing 
effects of stimulants including cocaine and nicotine and withdrawal symptoms from stimulants (Watkins et 
al., 2000). Preclinical studies suggest that estradiol and progesterone may have opposing effects on the 
dopaminergic system. While estradiol has stimulatory effects on the dopaminergic system, progesterone 
may have inhibitory effects (Becker and Rudnick, 1999; Dluzen and Ramirez, 1987; Fernandez-Ruiz et 
al., 1990; Michanek and Meyerson, 1982; Morissette and Di Paolo, 1993). These preclinical studies 
suggest that progesterone may potentially modulate the actions of nicotine through its effects on the 
dopaminergic system. 
 
In light of these clinical findings, it is plausible that attenuation of the rewarding effects of nicotine effects 
by progesterone may contribute to the observed sex differences on nicotine dependence in humans. The 
cyclical increases in progesterone levels during the luteal phase may attenuate the effects of nicotine and 


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15
may contribute to decreased sensitivity of women to the nicotine effects, compared to men. Whether 
these effects of progesterone administration on craving and smoking behavior are secondary to effects on 
dopamine or GABAergic function or both is not known. Preclinical data and our pilot data (not shown) 
suggests that progesterone has moderate to profound effects on GABAergic function. In some women 
oral progesterone administration decreased occipital cortex GABA concentrations by 11%-40%. With the 
research paradigm proposed in this protocol, we hope to further our understanding of how progesterone 
may modulate nicotine craving and smoking behavior by obtaining a central measure of the hormone's 
effect on brain GABA concentrations.  
 
Interestingly, there is a growing interest in the neuroprotective effects of progesterone administration for 
the treatment of traumatic brain injury in both men and women. In a randomized, placebo controlled trial, 
Wright and colleagues (2007) gave both males and females presenting with acute brain injury a loading 
dose of progesterone 0.71 mg/kg intravenously followed by approximately 0.5 mg/kg per hour for 11 
hours. For the following three days, subjects received progesterone 0.5 mg/kg per hour or placebo for 12 
hours each day. At this rate, an average man of 170 pounds (77 kg), would have received a 54.7 mg of 
progesterone over the first hour followed by 424 mg over the next 11 hours. These doses were well 
tolerated by both male and female patients, with no serious adverse events attributable to progesterone 
administration. In fact, 30-day mortality rate was significantly less in those subjects randomized to 
progesterone compared to those randomized to placebo. This smaller study has led to a large NIH-
funded Phase III clinical trial of progesterone administration for traumatic brain injury. 
 
7.2.1 Reference to previously submitted IND application(s) 
Not applicable to this application. 
7.3 
Overview of Preclinical Data 
See FDA Labeling Attached 
8 
Investigational Agent: Chemistry and Manufacturing 
 
– 
Prometrium capsules contain micronized progesterone, which has a molecular weight of 314.47 
and a molecular formula of C21H30O2. Progesterone (pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione) is a white or creamy 
white, odorless, crystalline powder practically insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, acetone and 
dioxane and sparingly soluble in vegetable oils, stable in air, melting between 126 and 131 C. 
Progesterone is synthesized from a starting material from a plant source and is chemically identical 
to progesterone of human ovarian origin. Inactive ingredients for Prometrium Capsules 200 mg 
include: peanut oil NF, gelatin NF, glycerin USP, lecithin NF, titanium dioxide USP, D&C yellow No. 
10 and FD&C Yellow No 6.  
 
– 
Manufactured by: Catalent Pharma Solutions, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 
– 
Marketed by: Abbvie, Inc, North Chicago, Illinois, 60064 
 
8.1 
General Method of Preparation and packaging 
Prometrium (progesterone) is commercially available from the manufacturer.  
All of the study drug will be prepared and dispensed by the Penn Investigational Drug Service 
(IDS). IDS backfills the Prometrium capsules with a small amount of microcrystalline cellulose 
(not lactose per investigator request) to ensure they seem similar to the placebo capsules.  
8.2 
Drug Components and Drug Product 
– 
Progesterone is synthesized from a starting material from a plant source and is chemically 
identical to progesterone of human ovarian origin. Inactive ingredients for Prometrium Capsules 
200 mg include: peanut oil NF, gelatin NF, glycerin USP, lecithin NF, titanium dioxide USP, D&C 
yellow No. 10 and FD&C Yellow No 6.  


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16
8.3 
Placebo Product 
Capsugel hard gelatin capsules will be used for both the placebo product and active progesterone 
capsules. The placebo capsules will be filled with microcrystalline cellulose. 
 
Capsugel hard gelatin capsules are made from high-quality gelatin derived from collagen, a fibrillar 
protein composed of eighteen different amino acids found in connective tissues and bones. Natural 
bovine or porcine collagen is macerated and purified using either acids or alkalis, depending on the 
production process. The collagen splits hydrolytically into an unbranched amino acid chain with a 
molecular weight ranging from 40,000 to 100,000. This results in a high-grade, consistent granular 
gelatin. The high-grade gelatin used to produce Capsugel hard gelatin capsules meets all 
standards and regulations imposed by both the food and pharmaceutical industries. 
8.4 
Labeling 
The drug used for this study will be placed in a bottle labeled with the subject’s name, instructing them to 
take one 200 mg capsule by mouth on Test Days 2 - 5. The capsules will be ordered through the IDS at 
Penn and brought to the scan session by a member of the PCWBW research staff. The study drug will be 
stored at the Penn Center for Women’s Behavioral Wellness and research staff will monitor and 
administer the study drug to the participant on each test day.  
8.5 
Environmental Analysis Requirements 
As progesterone is a marketed medication, we believe an environmental analysis is not required. 
9 
Pharmacology and Toxicology 
After oral administration of progesterone as a micronized soft-gelatin capsule formulation, maximum 
serum concentrations were attained within 3 hours. The absolute bioavailability of micronized 
progesterone is not known. Table 1 summarizes the mean pharmacokinetic parameters in 
postmenopausal women after five oral daily doses of Prometrium Capsules 100 mg. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Serum progesterone concentrations appeared linear and dose proportional following multiple dose 
administration of promethium capsules 100 mg over the dose range 100 mg/d to 300 mg/d. The 
pharmacokinetic parameters in male volunteers were generally consistent with hose seen in 
postmenopausal women. Progesterone is approximately 96% to 99% bound to serum proteins, primarily 
to serum albumin and transcortin. Progesterone is metabolized primarily by the liver largely to 
pregnanediols and pregnanolones. The glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of pregnanediol and 
pregnaolone are excreted in the bile and urine. Progesterone metabolites are eliminated mainly by the 
kidneys. 
 
Please refer to the attached FDA-approved label from February 2010 attached for more detailed 
information on the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and safety of Prometrium. 
10 Previous Human Experience with the Investigational Agent 
10.1 Marketed experience (From Product Package Insert) 
Progesterone is FDA approved for the prevention of endometrial hyperplasia in women undergoing 
estrogen treatment and the treatment of secondary amenorrhea. In a randomized, double-blind, clinical 


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17
trial, 358 postmenopausal women each with an intact uterus received treatment for up to 36 months. The 
treatment groups were Prometrium Capsules at the dose of 200 mg/d for 12 days per 28-day cycle in 
combination with conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg/day (n=120); conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg/day only 
(n=199); or placebo (n=119). The subjects in all three treatment groups were primarily Caucasian women 
(87% or more of each group). The results for the incidence of endometrial hyperoplasia in women 
receiving up to 3 years of treatment are shown below. A comparison of the Prometrium Capsules plus 
conjugated estrogens treatment group to the conjugated estrogens only group showed a significantly 
lower rate of hyperplasia (6% combination product versus 64% estrogen alone) in the Prometrium 
capsules plus conjugated estrogens treatment group throughout 36 months of treatment. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In a single-center, randomized, double-blind clinical study that included premenopausal women with 
secondary amenorrhea for at least 90 days, administration of 10 days of Prometrium Capsules therapy 
resulted in 80% of women experiencing withdrawal bleeding within 7 days of the last dose of Prometrium 
Capsules, 300 mg/d (n=20), compared to 10% of women experiencing withdrawal bleeding in the placebo 
troup (n=21). The rate of secretory transformation was evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, double-
blind clinical study in estrogen-primed postmenopasusal women. Prometrium Capsules administered 
orally for 10 days at 400 mg/d (n=22) induced complete secretory changes in the endometrium in 45% of 
women compared to 0% in the placebo group (n=23). 
10.2 Prior Clinical Research Experience 
Sofuoglu and colleagues (2001) previously studied the direct effects of oral progesterone treatment on 
smoking behavior in female smokers. In each experimental session, following overnight abstinence from 
smoking, subjects received a single 200 mg dose of progesterone or placebo, orally. Two and a half 
hours after the medication treatment, subjects were assessed for subjective response to two puffs of a 
cigarette and then started the self-administration period, in which every 15 minutes, they had the option to 
exchange their earned token for two puffs of a cigarette or money. Progesterone treatment attenuated 
subjective rating of good effects of smoking the first cigarette and craving for cigarettes following 
overnight abstinence. The first cigarette following abstinence is regarded to be highly rewarding and 
linked to relapse in smokers trying to quit (Brandon et al., 1990; Kenford et al., 1994). The progesterone 
effects on the subjective rewarding effects of smoking and craving for cigarettes suggested that this 
hormone may have significant effects on smoking behavior and tobacco withdrawal symptoms. More 
recently Sofuoglu et al. (in press) studied the effects of two doses of progesterone 200 mg/d and 400 
mg/d versus placebo on measures of attention (Stroop and Digit Symbol Substitution Test) and smoking 
urges in 35 female and 34 male smokers. The 200 mg/d dose improved cognitive performance, while the 
400 mg/d dose reduces smoking urges. All subject tolerated both dosages without serious adverse 
events. There were no effects of progesterone administration on mood, and only modest effects on blood 
pressure and heart rate, reducing heart rate in males and diastolic blood pressure in females. 
 
The same group conducted a similar preliminary study to examine the progesterone effects on smoked 
cocaine responses in which cocaine-dependent women, following progesterone or placebo treatment, 
received three deliveries of 0.4 mg/kg smoked cocaine, 30 min apart. Progesterone treatment attenuated 


Investigator’s Protocol – Version 25 (August 1, 2017)  
 
Principal Investigator: Epperson, CN 
 
 
 
18
some of the subjective effects of cocaine further suggesting that progesterone may effect mediation of 
reward by psychostimulants (Sofuoglu et al., 2002a). Preclinical studies provide possible mechanisms to 
explain these findings. Progesterone has wide-ranging effects in the brain including the activation of 
GABA type A receptors (Majewska, 1990). Progesterone also affects the dopaminergic system, a 
neurotransmitter system, which is implicated to be an important neural substrate for both the reinforcing 
effects of stimulants including cocaine and nicotine and withdrawal symptoms from stimulants (Watkins et 
al., 2000). Preclinical studies suggest that estradiol and progesterone may have opposing effects on the 
dopaminergic system. While estradiol has stimulatory effects on the dopaminergic system, progesterone 
may have inhibitory effects (Becker and Cha, 1989; Dluzen and Ramirez, 1987; Fernandez-Ruiz et al., 
1990; Michanek and Meyerson, 1982; Morissette and Di Paolo, 1993; Peris et al., 1991; Roberts et al., 
1989; Shimizu and Bray, 1993). These preclinical studies suggest that progesterone may potentially 
modulate the actions of nicotine through its effects on the dopaminergic system. 
 
Interestingly, there is a growing interest in the neuroprotective effects of progesterone administration for 
the treatment of traumatic brain injury in both men and women. In a randomized, placebo controlled trial, 
Wright and colleagues (2007) gave both males and females presenting with acute brain injury a loading 
dose of progesterone 0.71 mg/kg intravenously followed by approximately 0.5 mg/kg per hour for 11 
hours. For the following three days, subjects received progesterone 0.5 mg/kg per hour or placebo for 12 
hours each day. At this rate, an average man of 170 pounds (77 kg), would have received a 54.7 mg of 
progesterone over the first hour followed by 424 mg over the next 11 hours. These doses were well 
tolerated by both male and female patients, with no serious adverse events attributable to progesterone 
administration. In fact, 30-day mortality rate was significantly less in those subjects randomized to 
progesterone compared to those randomized to placebo. This smaller study has led to a large NIH-
funded Phase III clinical trial of progesterone administration for traumatic brain injury. 
 
While Prometrium was not the type of progestin used in the Women’s Health Initiative Study (WHI), the 
outcome of this study has led to revision of the Prometrium package insert. Please refer to the insert 
(enclosed with this IND application) for full details.  
10.3 Clinical Care Experience 
Physicians world-wide prescribe progesterone to women with an intact uterus who are using estrogen as 
hormone therapy. Those clinicians who are interested in using oral natural progesterone would prescribe 
Prometrium as it is the only FDA approved oral micronized progesterone. Our clinical research program 
has used Prometrium for a number of years. Women presenting for our research studies focusing on 
estrogen will be prescribed Prometrium 200 mg/d for 12 days in order to obtain a withdrawal bleed after 
use of unopposed estrogen for 8-12 weeks. We have had no clinically significant adverse events in the 
over 30 women who have participated in our menopause studies to date. 
11 Additional Information 
11.1 Drug dependence and abuse potential – not applicable to this study.  
11.2 Radioactive drugs – not applicable to this study. 
11.3 Pediatric studies – not applicable to this study. 
11.4 Other information 
 
 


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12 Bibliography  
 
Allen, S.S., Hatsukami, D., Christianson, D., Nelson, D. (1996) Symptomatology and energy intake during  
the menstrual cycle in smoking women. J Substance Abuse, 8:303-319. 
 
Allen SS, Hatsukami D, Christianson D, Brown S (2000) Effects of transdermal nicotine on craving, 
withdrawal and premenstrual symptomatology in short-term smoking abstinence during different phases 
of the menstrual cycle. Nicotine Tob Res. 2(3):231-41. 
 
Becker JB, Rudick CN (1999) Rapid effects of estrogen or progesterone on the amphetamine-induced 
increase in striatal dopamine are enhanced by estrogen priming: a microdialysis study.Pharmacol 
Biochem Behav. 64(1):53-7. 
Benowitz NL, Hatsukami D (1998) Gender differences in the pharmacology of nicotine addiction. 
Addiction Biology. 3(4), 383-404. 
 
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