The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of rapamycin (sirolimus) versus a placebo, an inactive substance, on responses to smoking cues in individuals with nicotine dependence. Rapamycin (sirolimus) is a FDA-approved antibiotic and immunosuppressive drug that is currently used to (a) prevent organ transplant recipients from rejecting their transplants (b) treat cardiovascular diseases, and (c) treat some forms of cancer. Rapamycin (sirolimus) is not FDA-approved for smoking cessation. The use of rapamycin (sirolimus) in this study is investigational, meaning that the study medication is not a proven treatment for nicotine dependence, however this study will examine the medication's use as a potential future treatment for nicotine dependence.
The proposed study will employ 58 ND treatment-seeking smokers who will be randomly assigned to receive either 15-mg of sirolimus or placebo (group n's=29) immediately after the first of two smoking cue exposure sessions scheduled to occur on consecutive days. The first session will serve as a Retrieval session during which smoking (e.g., handling and lighting of a cigarette) cue exposure will elicit retrieval and reconsolidation of smoking-related memories; the second session will be a Test session to examine the potential modulatory role of sirolimus on the reconsolidation of memories putatively elicited during the retrieval session. Participants will be required to refrain from smoking the night before (bedtime) their first laboratory (i.e., Retrieval) session and will remain abstinent from smoking until the completion of the second laboratory (i.e., Test) session. It is posited that changes in reactivity during the test session will reflect medication effects on memory reconsolidation that occurred following the retrieval session. Measures of subjective responses (i.e., craving) and physiological reactivity (i.e., heart rate \& skin conductance) will be obtained before, during and after cue presentations in both sessions. The durability of any observed treatment effects will be assessed in a Follow-up session performed 7-days following completion of the test session. Treatment effects on self-report measures of smoking behavior during the 7-days preceding the Follow-up session will also be assessed.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
22
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Craving Levels in Response to Cue
Patients are asked about craving level on a scale of 0-100, 0 is least amount of craving and 100 is highest amount of craving
Time frame: Study visit 1 (Baseline; day 0), visit 2 (day 7) and visit 3 (day 14)
Heart Rate in Response to Cue
Heart rate is measured using a Biopac machine and Acqknowledge software at different timepoints throughout each visit while the participants are exposed to smoking cues.
Time frame: Study visit 1 (Baseline; day 0), visit 2 (day 7) and visit 3 (day 14)
Average Cigarettes Smoked Per Day
Patients will be asked how many cigarettes per day they smoked 90 days prior to starting the study. Patients are then given a smoking and alcohol diary to complete during the course of the trial.
Time frame: Visit 1 through Visit 3 (day 0-day 14)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.