Varenicline Treatment for Smoking Cessation in Patients With Bipolar Disorder

Summary

The investigators' hypothesis is that add-on varenicline will be effective (versus placebo) in initiating abstinence from smoking in subjects with stable, euthymic bipolar disorder who are motivated to quit smoking within four weeks. This primary outcome will be assessed from randomization to 12 weeks or end of the treatment phase of the study. Secondarily, the investigators also hypothesize that varenicline will prevent relapse in the subsequent 12-weeks follow-up non-treatment phase. Furthermore, the investigators plan to test the effectiveness of varenicline in reducing nicotine withdrawal symptoms or urges to smoke, as well as its safety for use in stable bipolar patients when used as an add-on treatment for smoking cessation.

The investigators plan to test these hypotheses by conducting a randomized, placebo-controlled add-on treatment trial of Chantix with 60 recruited subjects diagnosed with DSM-IV bipolar disorder for a period of three months. The investigators will follow-up with them three months later to evaluate extended abstinence.

Conditions

• Smoking Cessation
• Bipolar Disorder

Interventions

DRUG

Varenicline

Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either varenicline or placebo for 12 weeks. Patients assigned to varenicline will receive 0.5mg by the oral route once a day for 3 days, followed by 0.5mg twice a day for 4 days. After the first week the dose will be increased to 1mg twice daily for the remainder of the active treatment period of the study, i.e. 11 weeks. Patients assigned to placebo will receive identical looking capsules in a dosage schedule similar to varenicline. Patients will be instructed to take study medication after meals with a glass of water.

DRUG

Placebo

Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either varenicline or placebo for 12 weeks. Patients assigned to varenicline will receive 0.5mg by the oral route once a day for 3 days, followed by 0.5mg twice a day for 4 days. After the first week the dose will be increased to 1mg twice daily for the remainder of the active treatment period of the study, i.e. 11 weeks. Patients assigned to placebo will receive identical looking capsules in a dosage schedule similar to varenicline. Patients will be instructed to take study medication after meals with a glass of water.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• Pfizer

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• K.N. Roy Chengappa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• K.N. Roy Chengappa · University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-01-31

Primary Completion

2013-03-31

Completion

2013-03-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations