Varenicline and Alcohol in Inpatient Addictions Program (IAP)

The overall hypothesis of this line of research is that varenicline will decrease alcohol consumption and tobacco use and will increase alcohol and tobacco abstinence rates. In order to explore this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct a two-phase study: 1) an open label pilot study investigating the effect of varenicline on reduction of and abstinence from alcohol and tobacco; and 2) an optional MR spectroscopy to investigate whether glutamate and other brain metabolites correlate to measures of alcohol craving severity and/or subsequent varenicline treatment response.

The goal of this proposal is to explore the potential efficacy of varenicline for reducing alcohol consumption among alcohol-dependent cigarette smokers. The hypothesis for the current study is that 24 weeks of varenicline will increase alcohol abstinence rates among smokers and decrease alcohol consumption among patients receiving inpatient addiction treatment for alcoholism. The investigators will also explore whether varenicline has a beneficial effect on tobacco abstinence rates in this population of tobacco users.

The investigators will conduct an open-label pilot study to determine clinical efficacy and employ neuroimaging techniques to evaluate how glutamate and other brain metabolites correlate to measures of alcohol craving severity and/or subsequent varenicline treatment response. The investigators will enroll 20 subjects receiving treatment in the Mayo Clinic Inpatient Addictions Program (IAP) and compare outcomes with patients participating in a similar 6-month open-label study of acamprosate.

The Primary aims of this study are:

1. To obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy of varenicline (0.5 mg once daily for 3 days, 0.5 mg twice daily for days 4-7, 1 mg twice a day for remaining 23 weeks) for increasing continuous alcohol abstinence rates at 3 and 6 months among patients with alcohol and tobacco dependence who have completed treatment at the Mayo Clinic IAP.
2. To obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy of varenicline (0.5 mg once daily for 3 days, 0.5 mg twice daily for days 4-7, 1 mg twice a day for remaining 23 weeks) for decreasing the number of heavy drinking days (\> 5 drinks/day for men and \> 4 drink/day for women) at 3 and 6 months among patients with alcohol and tobacco dependence who have completed treatment at the Mayo Clinic IAP.
3. To obtain preliminary data on baseline and baseline to endpoint change in CSF volume corrected concentrations of the dorsal striatal glutamate, glutamate + glutamine, and NAA measures through MR spectroscopy before and after 30 days of varenicline treatment among patients with alcohol and tobacco dependence who have completed treatment at the Mayo Clinic IAP.

Secondary aims:

1. To obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy of varenicline (0.5 mg once daily for 3 days, 0.5 mg twice daily for days 4-7, 1 mg twice a day for remaining 23 weeks) for increasing the 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence rates and prolonged smoking abstinence at 3 and 6 months among patients with alcohol and tobacco dependence who have completed treatment at the Mayo Clinic IAP.
2. To assess the tolerability of varenicline (0.5 mg once daily for 3 days, 0.5 mg twice daily for days 4-7, 1 mg twice a day for remaining 23 weeks).

Eligibility Criteria:
Subjects will be eligible for enrollment if they:

1. Are \> 18 and \< 70 years of age
2. Are admitted to the inpatient addiction program (IAP) in the Generose Building at Saint Marys Hospital
3. Have been diagnosed with alcohol dependence based on DSM-IV-TR criteria and confirmed by Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM)
4. Smoke at least 10 cigarettes/day for ≥ 6 months
5. Are able to participate fully in all aspects of the study
6. Have been provided with, understand, and have signed the informed consent; and
7. Agree to identify collateral individuals for contact purposes to facilitate follow-up appointments.

Patients will be excluded from participation if they:

1. Meet DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia or other non-affective psychotic disorder
2. Have had psychotic symptoms within the past month
3. Have an Axis I disorder requiring new pharmacotherapy
4. Have a predominant Axis II disorder
5. Have used an investigational drug within 30 days of enrollment
6. Have started Naltrexone or Acamprosate during this same IAP admission
7. Have a history (past 3 months) of drug abuse (excluding caffeine and marijuana)
8. Have active suicidality as measured by screening questions from the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), (Posner 2008) outlined below:

   a. "Yes" response to questions 1, 2, or 3 with significant intensity level endorsed as: i. Frequency: score of 4 or 5 ii. Duration: score of 3, 4 or 5 iii. Controllability: score of 0, 4, or 5 iv. Deterrents: score of 0, 4 or 5 v. Reasons for Ideation: score of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 b. "Yes" response to question 4 c. "Yes" response to question 5
9. Have a history of medically serious suicide attempt within 5 years
10. Have a history of any major cardiovascular events including arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, unstable angina, acute MI or coronary angioplasty
11. Are pregnant, lactating, or of child bearing potential, likely to become pregnant during the medication phase and not willing to use a reliable form of contraception. Reliable forms of contraception include diaphragm or condom (with spermicidal), injections, intrauterine device \[IUD\], surgical sterilization and abstinence;
12. Have clinically significant acute or chronic progressive or unstable neurologic, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic disease
13. Have another household member or relative participating in the study
14. Have a known allergy to varenicline
15. Are individuals, in the investigators opinion, unable to comply with study procedures
16. Are unable to provide written informed consent in English
17. Are on hemodialysis or have a history of kidney disease.

Patients will be excluded from participation in the MR spectroscopy portion of the study if they have:

1. Claustrophobia
2. A history of major head trauma with loss of consciousness \> 5 minutes or skull fracture
3. A history of previous neurological event (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, transient ischemic attack)
4. Implanted metal objects (e.g., pacemakers; aneurysm clips; metal prostheses, joints, rods, or plates)
5. Contraindication to MRI scanning.