Conditions: Smoking Cessation Alcohol-Related Disorders
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Enrollment: 143
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
Smoking is often a problem for alcohol dependent individuals. Many people who seek treatment for alcohol dependence are unable to quit smoking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bupropion, an antidepressant medication, in treating smokers receiving treatment for alcohol dependence.

Detailed description:
Past research suggests that over 75% of alcohol dependent individuals in early alcohol recovery smoke cigarettes; smoking-related mortality exceeds alcohol-related mortality in this population. Many alcohol dependent individuals in early recovery are interested in smoking cessation treatment; however, studies indicate that these smokers find it very difficult to quit smoking. More effective treatment methods are needed for smokers in early alcohol recovery. Bupropion is a dopaminergic antidepressant that may be effective in treating nicotine dependent individuals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of bupropion in nicotine dependent individuals receiving treatment for alcohol dependence. In addition, this study will investigate the psychological mechanisms that may mediate the efficacy of bupropion in smoking cessation. We will also collect DNA from subjects in order to explore whether response to bupropion is mediated by particular genetic variants in the dopaminergic, metabolic and nicotinic receptor systems of smokers.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 300 mg of bupropion or placebo, daily for 8 weeks. In addition, all participants will receive a nicotine patch for 7 weeks. This will consist of a 21-mg nicotine patch for 4 weeks, a 14-mg nicotine patch for 2 weeks, and a 7-mg nicotine patch for 1 week. All participants will undergo seven counseling sessions. Follow-up visits will occur at Weeks 7, 12, and 24. Pre-quit variables (e.g., smoking satisfaction) and three post-quit variables (craving, nicotine withdrawal, and negative effects) will be evaluated at all study visits.

Arms:
arm 1: participants in this arm receive bupropion arm 2: placebo

Interventions: intervention 1: Bupropion intervention 2: placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 300 mg QD intervention 2: placebo

Protocol document: