Suvorexant to Reduce Symptoms of Nicotine Use

Suvorexant to Reduce Symptoms of Nicotine Use: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of suvorexant on established measures of smoking relapse risk (craving,withdrawal, stress reactivity, latency to self-administration) and to validate the somnolent effect of suvorexant on sleep metrics in a sample of individuals with tobacco use disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

• non-treatment seeking cigarette smokers that report smoking atleast 10 cigarettes per day

Exclusion Criteria:

• greater than mild substance use disorder on drugs other than nicotine
• a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM)-IV axis I psychiatric disorder or neurological disease or disorder requiring ongoing treatment and/or making study participation unsafe
• significant current suicidal or homicidal ideation - medical conditions contraindicating administration of suvorexant (e.g., severe pulmonary disease, severe cardiovascular disease or clinically abnormal EEG, severe liver or kidney disease, seizure disorder, or sleep disorder - particularly narcolepsy)
• taking medications known to have significant drug interactions with the study medication(s) (e.g., Monoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAO) inhibitors, anticonvulsants, haloperidol, phenothiazines, anesthetics, and all sedatives)
• currently or recently (last 3 months) treated for substance use [other than nicotine] or another psychiatric condition
• conditions of probation or parole requiring reports of drug use to officers of the court
• impending incarceration
• pregnant or nursing for female patients
• inability to read, write, or speak English [required for lab tasks and psychometric scales]
• unwillingness to sign a written informed consent form
• subjects with alcohol use disorders or report recent problem drinking (5/4 drinks for males/females in < 2.5 hours or > 10 alcoholic drinks per week)
• any illness,condition, or use of medications which in the opinion of the PI and/or admitting physician would preclude safe and/or successful completion of the study.