Relapse Prevention With Varenicline

Johns Hopkins University104 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to determine if varenicline (Chantix®), currently used as a smoking cessation aid, will decrease the likelihood of relapse to smoking following a programmed lapse in the laboratory. The hypothesis is that varenicline will reduce the reinforcing effects of smoking and will delay or prevent relapse compared to placebo.

In this study, the investigators plan to use an experimental model of a lapse, in which volunteers smoke two cigarettes after a brief period of (12-24 hours). The goals of this study are to assess the impact of varenicline on the subjective and reinforcing effects of cigarettes, as well as the latency to resume smoking (relapse) following the lapse exposure.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

104

Conditions

Recurrence Smoking Cessation Substance-Related Disorders

Interventions

VareniclineDRUG

Varenicline given twice a day or five weeks.

PlaceboDRUG

Placebo given twice a day or five weeks.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-75 years old * Reports smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day AND provides a urine sample that tests positive for nicotine metabolites at intake * Contemplating a smoking cessation attempt in the near future * Willing to engage in a practice quit attempt during which they will be asked to smoke on one occasion * Able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Currently meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) criteria for depression, bi-polar disorder, or schizophrenia * History of attempted suicide or expresses any current suicidal ideation * Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant within the next 3 months * Reports desire for immediate treatment of tobacco/nicotine dependence * Severe impairment of renal function indicated by Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) less than 30 ml/min calculated using the Cockcroft and Gault prediction method (plasma creatinine adjusted by weight, gender, and age)

Locations (1)

Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Days to Relapse

Number of days following the programmed lapse exposure until relapse to smoking occurred

Time frame: 4 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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