Editing Progesterone (section)

===Addiction===

Progesterone enhances the function of [[serotonin receptor]]s in the brain, so an excess or deficit of progesterone has the potential to result in significant neurochemical issues. This provides an explanation for why some people resort to substances that enhance [[serotonin]] activity such as [[nicotine]], [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]], and [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] when their progesterone levels fall below optimal levels.<ref name="pmid21186920">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lynch WJ, Sofuoglu M | title = Role of progesterone in nicotine addiction: evidence from initiation to relapse | journal = Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology | volume = 18 | issue = 6 | pages = 451–461 | date = December 2010 | pmid = 21186920 | pmc = 3638762 | doi = 10.1037/a0021265 }}</ref>
* Sex differences in hormone levels may induce women to respond differently than men to nicotine. When women undergo cyclic changes or different hormonal transition phases (menopause, pregnancy, adolescence), there are changes in their progesterone levels.<ref name="pmid22474108">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cosgrove KP, Esterlis I, McKee SA, Bois F, Seibyl JP, Mazure CM, Krishnan-Sarin S, Staley JK, Picciotto MR, O'Malley SS | display-authors = 6 | title = Sex differences in availability of β2*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in recently abstinent tobacco smokers | journal = Archives of General Psychiatry | volume = 69 | issue = 4 | pages = 418–427 | date = April 2012 | pmid = 22474108 | pmc = 3508698 | doi = 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.1465 }}</ref> Therefore, females have an increased biological vulnerability to nicotine's reinforcing effects compared to males and progesterone may be used to counter this enhanced vulnerability. This information supports the idea that progesterone can affect behavior.<ref name="pmid21186920"/>
* Similar to nicotine, cocaine also increases the release of dopamine in the brain. The neurotransmitter is involved in the reward center and is one of the main neurotransmitters involved with substance abuse and reliance. In a study of cocaine users, it was reported that progesterone reduced craving and the feeling of being stimulated by cocaine. Thus, progesterone was suggested as an agent that decreases cocaine craving by reducing the dopaminergic properties of the drug.<ref name="pmid21796112">{{cite journal | vauthors = Mello NK, Knudson IM, Kelly M, Fivel PA, Mendelson JH | title = Effects of progesterone and testosterone on cocaine self-administration and cocaine discrimination by female rhesus monkeys | journal = Neuropsychopharmacology | volume = 36 | issue = 11 | pages = 2187–2199 | date = October 2011 | pmid = 21796112 | pmc = 3176575 | doi = 10.1038/npp.2011.130 }}</ref>