Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Varenicline and Combined NRT for Initial Smoking Cessation and Rescue Treatment in Smokers: A Randomized Pilot Trial
Brief Summary: This randomized pilot phase IV trial studies the side effects and how well varenicline works compared to nicotine replacement therapy in helping patients that smoke to quit. Varenicline is a drug that acts the same way as nicotine in the brain but is not habit-forming. Nicotine replacement therapy consists of nicotine patches and lozenges. It is not yet known if varenicline is more effective than nicotine replacement therapy in helping patients quit smoking.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* ≥ 18 years of age
* Smoke at least 10 cigarettes/day for the past year
* Suffered an enzyme-positive ACS
* Planned hospitalization of ≥24 hours
* Motivated to quit smoking
* Likely to be available for follow-up
* Able to understand and read English or French

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical condition with a prognosis of \< 1 year
* Pregnant or lactating
* Current use of Wellbutrin or any other medications that contain bupropion
* Current use of any medical therapy for smoking cessation (e.g. BuSpar, fluoxetine, doxepin, nicotine gum, or nicotine patch)
* Current seizure disorder, history of seizures or predisposition to seizures (e.g. history of brain tumor, severe head trauma, or stroke)
* History of bulimia or anorexia nervosa
* Current diagnosis of major depression (requiring medication), bipolar disease, or dementia
* History of suicidal events (previous suicide attempt, suicidal ideation) or family history of suicide
* Diagnosed hepatic failure, cirrhosis, hepatitis or history of hepatic impairment (AST or ALT levels ≥ 2 times upper limit of normal prior to admission for ACS)
* Renal impairment with creatinine levels ≥ 2 times the upper limit of normal
* Excessive alcohol consumption defined as ≥ 14 alcoholic drinks per week
* Use of any illegal drugs in the past year (e.g. cocaine, heroin, opiates)
* Current use of medications that lower seizure threshold e.g. amantadine, anti-depressants, anti-malarials, anti-psychotics, levodopa, lithium, quinolone antibiotics, ritonavir, systemic steroids, theophyllin, type 1C antiarrhythmics (e.g. encainide, flecainide, propafenone)
* Use of MAO inhibitors or thioridazine in the past 15 days
* Current use of over-the-counter stimulants (e.g. ephedrine, phenylephrine) or anoretics
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Smoking 5 or more cigarettes, little cigars and/or cigarillos per day, on average, within the 2 months preceding the screening visit and expired carbon monoxide (CO) greater than or equal to 6 parts per million (ppm) (if less than or equal to 5, then positive cotinine test)
* Interested in treatment that might change smoking behavior
* Able to follow verbal and written instructions in English and complete all aspects of the study
* Provide informed consent and agree to all assessments and study procedures
* Have an address and telephone number where he/she may be reached
* Be the only participant in his/her household

Exclusion Criteria:

* Within the month immediately preceding the screening visit, use of any form of tobacco products other than cigarettes, little cigars and/or cigarillos on 3 or more days within a week if the individual refuses to refrain from such tobacco use during the course of the study
* Current enrollment or plans to enroll in another smoking cessation program in the next 12 months
* Plan to use other nicotine substitutes (i.e., over-the-counter \[OTC\] or prescription medication for smoking cessation) or smoking cessation treatments in the next 12 months
* Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure; \[SBP\] greater than 180 or diastolic blood pressure; \[DBP\] greater than 110)
* History of severe kidney disease (e.g. chronic or acute kidney failure) with creatinine clearance below 30 and/or severe liver disease with liver tests over 4 times the upper normal level
* Laboratory evaluations (kidney and liver) outside normal limits and of potential clinical significance in the opinion of the investigator
* Serious or unstable disease within the past 3 months
* History (last 3 months) of abnormal heart rhythms, cardiovascular disease (stroke, angina, heart attack) may result in ineligibility; these conditions will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the study physician
* Current use of certain medications: (1) smoking cessation meds (last 7 days), i.e., Wellbutrin, Bupropion, Zyban, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), Chantix, (2) certain medications to treat depression (last 14 days), i.e. monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and Elavil (Amitriptyline), (3) a case by case determination will be made by study physician for medication on precautionary list, i.e. nitroglycerin, or (4) daily use of opioids for 30 days or more on phone screen or at screening is exclusionary however pro re nata (PRN) use is allowed (i.e., 3:7 days per week or less or if more frequent, use less than a month's duration)
* Meet criteria for the following psychiatric and/or substance use disorders as assessed by the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI): items C (current manic or hypomanic episode only), I (alcohol abuse - Alcohol Addendum - past 6 months only; current alcohol dependence), J (substance abuse - Substance Abuse Addendum - past 6 months only; current substance dependence), K (current/lifetime psychotic disorder or current/lifetime mood disorder with psychotic features); individuals who meet criteria for non-exclusionary psychiatric disorders that are considered clinically unstable and/or unsuitable to participate as determined by the principal investigator and/or study physician
* Individuals rated as moderate (9-16) to high (17 or greater) on suicidality as assessed by Module B of the MINI
* Psychiatric hospitalization within 1 year of screening date
* A positive urine pregnancy test during the screening period; women who are two years post-menopausal, or who have had a tubal ligation or a partial or full hysterectomy will not be subject to a urine pregnancy test
* Pregnant, breast-feeding or of childbearing potential and is not protected by a medically acceptable, effective method of birth control while enrolled in the study; medically acceptable contraceptives include: (1) approved hormonal contraceptives (such as birth control pills, patches, implants or injections), (2) barrier methods (such as a condom or diaphragm) used with a spermicide, or (3) an intrauterine device (IUD); contraceptive measures sold for emergency use after unprotected sex are not acceptable methods for routine use
* History of hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to varenicline, NRT, or any component of these formulations
* Any medical or psychiatric condition, illness, disorder, or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or treatment, as determined by the principal investigator and/or study physician
* Subject considered by the investigator as unsuitable candidate for receipt of an investigational drug, or unstable to be followed up throughout the entire duration of the study
* Positive toxicology screen for any of the following drugs: cocaine, opiates, methadone, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, phencyclidine (PCP), or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); a. participants with valid prescriptions for opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, amphetamines or methadone will not be excluded; b. participants failing the toxicology screen will be allowed to re-screen once; if they test positive again, they will not be allowed to return; study physician may clear participant to continue on if there is a reasonable possibility the positive drug screen is the result of cross-reactivity with the participant's concomitant medications resulting in a false positive
C: Inclusion criteria:

Participants must: plan to stay in the area for the next 12 months, ability to read and write in English, smoke on average ≥5 cigarettes per day over the last 6 months, be ≥18 years old, desire to quit smoking but not be engaged currently in cessation treatment, report no use of pipe tobacco, cigars, snuff, e-cigarettes or chew in the last 30 days, have reliable phone access, willing and able to use both nicotine patch and varenicline, access to transportation to come to our clinic and, if female, not be pregnant and be using an acceptable birth control method/ method to prevent pregnancy. Smoking will be biochemically confirmed via a carbon monoxide (CO) breath test at the orientation session visit. Potential participants must have a CO test result of ≥5ppm for eligibility to participate.

Exclusion criteria:

Current treatment for schizophrenia or a psychotic disorder; suicidal ideation in the past 12 months; history of suicidal attempts within the last 10 years; on dialysis or being told you have severe kidney disease; hospitalization for a stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus within the past year; history of seizure within the last year; currently taking Wellbutrin, Zyban, or Buproprion (Contrave is a weight-loss drug that has Wellbutrin in it) for reasons other than to quit smoking or taking to help quit smoking and not willing to stop for duration of the study; currently using any form of nicotine replacement (e.g., nicotine patch, nicotine gum, nicotine lozenge) or using Chantix or varenicline and not willing to stop for duration of the study; had a reaction to the nicotine patch that prevented them from continuing to use it; or currently participating in another smoking cessation study.

Pregnancy:

Even though we screen out participants who are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, nursing, or are unwilling to take steps to avoid pregnancy, there is a chance that a participant eligible at consent could become pregnant later. She would then be considered part of a vulnerable group. Given the longitudinal nature of the research, a participant who becomes pregnant after enrolling will be given the choice of whether to 1) continue in the study (for counseling and other assessments) and agree to immediately stop taking study meds for the remaining duration of the study and return any unused medications, OR 2) withdraw. No further medications will be given to this study participant while in the study.

Incarcerated Individuals:

Incarcerated individuals will not be enrolled in this study. However, given the longitudinal nature of the research, participants could be incarcerated for periods during their participation. If study staff learn that a participant is incarcerated at a time point before or at their Week 8 phone call, the participant will be withdrawn from the study. If study staff learn that a participant is incarcerated subsequent to Week 8, the participant will not be withdrawn unless that incarceration will take them beyond the study period. In that case, staff will not contact the participant while incarcerated and will not provide any treatment (counseling or medication) nor conduct any assessments during the period of incarceration. Services and assessments will be re-initiated if the participant is released at a later study time point.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day
* Expired carbon monoxide (CO) level greater than 9 parts per million (ppm)
* Motivated to quit smoking (score of 3 on 4-point self-report scale)
* Willing to fulfill study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

* Carbon monoxide breath test score below 9 ppm
* Serious psychopathology (bipolar disorder, psychosis)
* Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale CES-D)score over 16
* Contraindications for use of bupropion
* History of seizure disorder
* History of eating disorder
* Current heavy drinking
* Risk of pregnancy
* Current breastfeeding

Answer: B