Do Treatments for Smoking Cessation Affect Alcohol Drinking?

Do Treatments for Smoking Cessation Affect Alcohol Drinking?

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of smoking cessation medications on alcohol drinking. Effect of 2mg/day, 1mg/day, placebo varenicline was evaluated.

Following 7 days of medication pre-treatment to achieve steady state levels, participants complete a laboratory session assessing alcohol self-administration behavior.

Study enrolls heavy drinking smokers (not tested under nicotine deprivation), non-daily smokers, and nonsmokers. Volunteers are administered either varenicline (Chantix) or placebo.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 21 years old or older
• Able to read and write in English
• Smokers, non-daily smokers, and non-smokers
• Heavy Drinkers and/or meet criteria for alcohol use disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any significant current medical or psychiatric conditions that would contraindicate the consumption of alcohol
• Significant hepatocellular injury
• Positive test result at intake appointments on urine drug screens conducted for opiates, cocaine, or benzodiazepines
• Women who are pregnant or nursing
• Suicidal, homicidal, or evidence of severe mental illness
• Prescription of any psychotropic drug in the 30 days prior to study enrollment
• Blood donation within the past 8 weeks
• Individuals who are seeking treatment for drinking or smoking or who have attempted to quit drinking or smoking within the past 3 months
• Specific exclusions for administration of bupropion not specified above including: having taken monoamine inhibitors in the past six weeks; history of anorexia or bulimia; previous hypersensitivity to bupropion; history of alcohol or drug dependence in the past year; history of seizure disorder of any etiology
• Known allergy to varenicline or taking H2blockers
• Participation within the past 8 weeks in other studies that involve additive blood sampling and/or interventional measures that would be considered excessive in combination with the current study
• Subjects likely to exhibit clinically significant alcohol withdrawal during the study