Development of a citric acid aerosol as a smoking cessation aid

Abstract

The satisfaction derived from smoking depends not only on the pharmacological effects of nicotine but also the sensory stimulation from smoke inhalation, particularly the tracheal ‘scratch’. In a previous study, we found that a citric acid aerosol produces a tracheal ‘scratch’ and provides some of the same satisfaction as cigarette smoke. In the present study, we evaluated a new pocket-sized device for delivering a citric acid aerosol and examined some of the important variables for providing a satisfying substitute for cigarettes. In the first experiment, volunteers who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day compared a citric acid aerosol (either alone or with flavor additives) to a cigarette and a placebo. The addition of cigarette smoke flavor was found to best enhance the satisfaction provided by the citric acid aerosol. In the second experiment, smokers were given compact citric acid inhalers to use throughout 8 h of cigarette deprivation. The degree of satisfaction was highly correlated with the intensity of throat sensation provided by the aerosol. This citric acid aerosol inhaler may provide a useful tool for smokers while trying to quit smoking.