Does Varenicline Influence Alcohol Consumption in Alcohol Dependent Individuals?

Summary

The aim of the present clinical trial is to investigate whether 14 weeks of treatment with a prescription medication for smoking cessation (European trade name: Champix(R); US trade name: Chantix(R)), can reduce alcohol consumption in alcohol dependent individuals.

Timeline

Start

2009-03

Primary completion

2010-08

Completion

2011-01

Publications

• Background Ericson M, Lof E, Stomberg R, Soderpalm B. The smoking cessation medication varenicline attenuates alcohol and nicotine interactions in the rat mesolimbic dopamine system. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009 Apr;329(1):225-30. doi: 10.1124/jpet.108.147058. Epub 2009 Jan 6.
• Background Lof E, Olausson P, deBejczy A, Stomberg R, McIntosh JM, Taylor JR, Soderpalm B. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the ventral tegmental area mediate the dopamine activating and reinforcing properties of ethanol cues. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 Dec;195(3):333-43. doi: 10.1007/s00213-007-0899-4. Epub 2007 Aug 17.
• Background Lof E, Chau PP, Stomberg R, Soderpalm B. Ethanol-induced dopamine elevation in the rat--modulatory effects by subchronic treatment with nicotinic drugs. Eur J Pharmacol. 2007 Jan 26;555(2-3):139-47. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.10.056. Epub 2006 Oct 28.
• Background Soderpalm B, Ericson M, Olausson P, Blomqvist O, Engel JA. Nicotinic mechanisms involved in the dopamine activating and reinforcing properties of ethanol. Behav Brain Res. 2000 Aug;113(1-2):85-96. doi: 10.1016/s0166-4328(00)00203-5.
• Background Ericson M, Blomqvist O, Engel JA, Soderpalm B. Voluntary ethanol intake in the rat and the associated accumbal dopamine overflow are blocked by ventral tegmental mecamylamine. Eur J Pharmacol. 1998 Oct 9;358(3):189-96. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(98)00602-5.
• Background Blomqvist O, Ericson M, Engel JA, Soderpalm B. Accumbal dopamine overflow after ethanol: localization of the antagonizing effect of mecamylamine. Eur J Pharmacol. 1997 Sep 10;334(2-3):149-56. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(97)01220-x.
• Background Blomqvist O, Soderpalm B, Engel JA. Ethanol-induced locomotor activity: involvement of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors? Brain Res Bull. 1992 Aug;29(2):173-8. doi: 10.1016/0361-9230(92)90023-q.
• Background Blomqvist O, Engel JA, Nissbrandt H, Soderpalm B. The mesolimbic dopamine-activating properties of ethanol are antagonized by mecamylamine. Eur J Pharmacol. 1993 Nov 9;249(2):207-13. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(93)90434-j.
• Background Steensland P, Simms JA, Holgate J, Richards JK, Bartlett SE. Varenicline, an alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, selectively decreases ethanol consumption and seeking. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 24;104(30):12518-23. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0705368104. Epub 2007 Jul 11.
• Background Blomqvist O, Hernandez-Avila CA, Van Kirk J, Rose JE, Kranzler HR. Mecamylamine modifies the pharmacokinetics and reinforcing effects of alcohol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2002 Mar;26(3):326-31.
• Background Young EM, Mahler S, Chi H, de Wit H. Mecamylamine and ethanol preference in healthy volunteers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 Jan;29(1):58-65. doi: 10.1097/01.alc.0000150007.34702.16.
• Background Chi H, de Wit H. Mecamylamine attenuates the subjective stimulant-like effects of alcohol in social drinkers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 May;27(5):780-6. doi: 10.1097/01.ALC.0000065435.12068.24.
• Background Rollema H, Chambers LK, Coe JW, Glowa J, Hurst RS, Lebel LA, Lu Y, Mansbach RS, Mather RJ, Rovetti CC, Sands SB, Schaeffer E, Schulz DW, Tingley FD 3rd, Williams KE. Pharmacological profile of the alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist varenicline, an effective smoking cessation aid. Neuropharmacology. 2007 Mar;52(3):985-94. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2006.10.016. Epub 2006 Dec 8.
• Background Tonstad S. Varenicline for smoking cessation. Expert Rev Neurother. 2007 Feb;7(2):121-7. doi: 10.1586/14737175.7.2.121.
• Background Jorenby DE, Hays JT, Rigotti NA, Azoulay S, Watsky EJ, Williams KE, Billing CB, Gong J, Reeves KR; Varenicline Phase 3 Study Group. Efficacy of varenicline, an alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, vs placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006 Jul 5;296(1):56-63. doi: 10.1001/jama.296.1.56.
• Background Gonzales D, Rennard SI, Jorenby DE, Reeves KR. Comment: Oral varenicline for smoking cessation. Ann Pharmacother. 2007 Apr;41(4):720-1. doi: 10.1345/aph.1H310a. Epub 2007 Mar 20. No abstract available.
• Background Daeppen JB, Smith TL, Danko GP, Gordon L, Landi NA, Nurnberger JI Jr, Bucholz KK, Raimo E, Schuckit MA. Clinical correlates of cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence in alcohol-dependent men and women. The Collaborative Study Group on the Genetics of Alcoholism. Alcohol Alcohol. 2000 Mar-Apr;35(2):171-5. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/35.2.171.
• Background Larsson A, Jerlhag E, Svensson L, Soderpalm B, Engel JA. Is an alpha-conotoxin MII-sensitive mechanism involved in the neurochemical, stimulatory, and rewarding effects of ethanol? Alcohol. 2004 Oct-Nov;34(2-3):239-50. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2004.10.002.
• Background Larsson A, Svensson L, Soderpalm B, Engel JA. Role of different nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mediating behavioral and neurochemical effects of ethanol in mice. Alcohol. 2002 Nov;28(3):157-67. doi: 10.1016/s0741-8329(02)00244-6.
• Background Larsson A, Edstrom L, Svensson L, Soderpalm B, Engel JA. Voluntary ethanol intake increases extracellular acetylcholine levels in the ventral tegmental area in the rat. Alcohol Alcohol. 2005 Sep-Oct;40(5):349-58. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agh180. Epub 2005 Jul 25.
• Background Bohn MJ, Babor TF, Kranzler HR. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): validation of a screening instrument for use in medical settings. J Stud Alcohol. 1995 Jul;56(4):423-32. doi: 10.15288/jsa.1995.56.423.
• Background Anton RF, Moak DH, Latham P. The Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale: a self-rated instrument for the quantification of thoughts about alcohol and drinking behavior. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1995 Feb;19(1):92-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1995.tb01475.x.
• Background Wilson CB, Gutin P, Boldrey EB, Drafts D, Levin VA, Enot KJ. Single-agent chemotherapy of brain tumors. A five-year review. Arch Neurol. 1976 Nov;33(11):739-44. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1976.00500110007002.

Drugs

Indications