Conditions: Nicotine Dependence
Keywords: smoking nicotine varenicline
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 48
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
This study will demonstrate the behavioral responses to varenicline, helping to better understand its mechanisms. Hypotheses for the study are to observe decreases in smoking topography and nicotine cigarette choice on varenicline, relative to placebo; and decreases on day 21 relative to day 7 during varenicline treatment. We also propose to examine if extended duration of treatment has clinical significance in decreasing smoking behaviors, thus increasing the efficacy of varenicline.

Detailed description:
This study is designed to examine the behavioral responses a cigarette smoker may have to using varenicline. Behavioral responses may help to better understand its mechanisms which in turn could improve treatment outcomes. The primary hypothesis for the study is to observe decreases in smoking topography, an objective measure of smoking behavior or puffing, on varenicline, relative to placebo; and decreases on day 21 relative to day 7 during varenicline treatment. We will also examine puffing and nicotine cigarette choices during lab visits at baseline, and Days 7 and 21. We also propose to examine if extended duration of treatment has clinical significance in decreasing smoking behaviors, thus potentially increasing the efficacy of varenicline.

Arms:
arm 1: Drug (Varenicline (Chantix)): Placebo

Intervention to be administered is: participants will receive standard dosing regimen of Varenicline for 21 days total, followed by 14-day washout and 21 days of placebo. Standard dosing: 0.5 mg days 1-3; 0.5 mg bid days 4-7; 1.0 mg bid days 8-21. arm 2: Placebo: Drug Varenicline (Chantix)

Intervention to be administered is: participants will receive 21 days of placebo, followed by 14-day washout and standard dosing regimen of Varenicline for 21 days total. Standard dosing: 0.5 mg days 1-3; 0.5 mg bid days 4-7; 1.0 mg bid days 8-21.

Intervention 'Drug (Varenicline (Chantix)): Placebo'

Interventions: intervention 1: Varenicline
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Intervention Drug (Varenicline (Chantix) will be administered in standard dosing in pill format: 0.5 mg days 1-3; 0.5 mg bid daily days 4-7; 1.0 mg bid daily days 8-21.

Protocol document: