Varenicline for Gait and Balance Impairment in Parkinson Disease
Condition: Parkinson Disease
MeSH terms: Parkinson Disease
Intervention: Varenicline; Sugar pill
Intervention description: Varenicline 1mg twice daily for eight weeks after a one week dose escalation period.; 1mg twice daily for eight weeks after a one week dose escalation phase.
Intervention MeSH terms: Varenicline
Phase: Phase 2
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Enrollment: 40.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 40 Years
Maximum age: 90 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: Balance; Postural impairment; Falls; Parkinson Disease

Summary:

      The purpose of this study is to determine if varenicline is effective in improving gait and
      balance impairment in patients with Parkinson disease.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Subjects will be diagnosed with Parkinson Disease (PD) by the United Kingdom (UK)
             Brain Bank criteria.

          -  Subjects will have to be at least stage 2 on the Hoehn and Yahr staging system of PD
             and have a history of at least 1 fall or near fall in the last 6 months

          -  Subjects must have a stable medication regimen.

          -  All subjects will be over the age of 40 in an attempt to exclude inherited forms of
             parkinsonism.

          -  Serum creatine kinase, complete metabolic panel, complete blood count, liver function
             tests, renal function tests, platelets and EKG are within normal limits (results
             obtained from primary care physician and dated within the past 6 months or obtained at
             screening visit).

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Hoehn and Yahr stage V subjects.

          -  Subjects with a history of major psychiatric disorder, deep brain stimulation surgery,
             recent cerebral trauma, cardiac arrhythmia, or renal insufficiency.

          -  A cardiovascular procedure in the last 5 years (eg, percutaneous transluminal coronary
             angioplasty) or have cardiovascular instability (including myocardial infarction or
             unstable angina). Other cardiovascular exclusions include uncontrolled hypertension,
             significant neurological sequelae of cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular
             disease with prior amputation, or severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart
             Association class III or IV).

          -  Concurrent treatment with any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), bupropion
             (Wellbutrin), or nicotine patches.

          -  Dementia or other psychiatric illness that prevents the patient from giving informed
             consent (Folstein Mini Mental Status Exam score less than 25).

          -  Concurrent treatment with trihexyphenidyl (Artane) or benztropine mesylate (Cogentin).

          -  Significant degree of dysphagia, by history.

          -  Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity.

          -  Presence of severe renal disease (BUN 50% greater than normal or creatinine clearance
             <60 mL/min) or hepatic disease.

          -  Abnormal creatine kinase and/or platelet count in the past 6 months (as determined by
             lab reports obtained from primary care physicians or conducted at baseline).

          -  Use of varenicline within the previous 30 days.

          -  Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant at the time of screening or who will
             not use adequate protection during participation of the study.

          -  Allergy/sensitivity to the drug or its formulations.

          -  Concurrent participation in another clinical study.

          -  Active substance or tobacco use or dependence.

          -  Moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

          -  Serious illness (requiring systemic treatment/or hospitalization) until the subject
             either completes therapy or is clinically stable on therapy, in the opinion of the
             site investigator, for at least 60 days prior to study entry.

          -  Inability or unwillingness of the subject or legal guardian/representative to give
             written informed consent.