Status:

COMPLETED

Varenicline to Reduce Alcohol Consumption in Heavy Drinkers

Lead Sponsor:

Vijay Ramchandani, Ph.D.

Collaborating Sponsors:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Conditions:

Alcohol Drinking

Eligibility:

All Genders

21-60 years

Phase:

PHASE1

PHASE2

Brief Summary

This study will determine whether varenicline, a drug that acts on the brain's nicotine receptors and is used to help smokers stop smoking, will have an impact on alcohol self-administration. People ...

Detailed Description

Objective: Considerable clinical and experimental evidence in humans and animal models links nicotine use with heavy alcohol consumption. Varenicline, an alpha4beta2 (nicotinic) acetylcholine recepto...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Age 21 to 60 years of age.
  • In good health.
  • Drink a weekly average of 15 and 20 standard alcoholic drinks (12 gm ethanol/beverage), respectively, for women and men.
  • Have a working phone number.
  • EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Currently seeking help for an alcohol problem.
  • Subjects with clinically significant alcohol withdrawal.
  • More than thirty days of abstinence from alcohol in the ninety days prior to enrollment.
  • A positive breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) at the first visit
  • A history of major alcohol-related complications at any time, such as pancreatitis.
  • Any serious cardiovascular condition or high risk factors, evidenced by any of the following:
  • Current or past diagnosis of coronary artery disease (such as ischemia, angina, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction) or peripheral arterial disease;
  • Current or past diagnosis of diabetes, or casual glucose level \> 200 mg/dl;
  • Elevated blood pressure (above 160/100) at screening,
  • Elevated lipid levels: LDL \> 160 mg/dL, HDL \< 40 mg/dL for males or \< 45 mg/dL for females;
  • Clinically significant ECG abnormalities or unstable arrhythmias.
  • Contraindication(s) to take the study medication as listed in the package insert.
  • Contraindication(s) to take the study medication as listed in the package insert.
  • Psychiatric problems requiring clinical attention: a current or past diagnosis of major depression, panic disorder, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder. Individuals who report lifetime (past or current) history of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts or self injury.
  • Recent (within the last two months) or regular use of illicit or non-prescribed psycho-active substances such as opiates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, PCP, methamphetamines/other psychostimulants or marijuana.
  • Psycho-social instability (e.g. no fixed address, no reliable secondary person to contact in case of an emergency).
  • Women who are lactating, are trying to become pregnant or who are not willing to practice safe and effective birth control.
  • Moderate-to-severe renal impairment defined as estimated or measured creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min.
  • Use of bupropion or nicotine replacement therapy within 90 days of the protocol, inhibitors/substrates for renal cationic transporters, or medications contraindicated with ethanol.
  • Exclusion criteria for MRI scanning, including metal in body (such as implants, pacemaker, prostheses, shrapnel, irremovable piercing), left-handedness, and claustrophobia.
  • A history of violence or aggression, assessed as part of the clinical interview at screening visit.

Exclusion

    Key Trial Info

    Start Date :

    June 1 2008

    Trial Type :

    INTERVENTIONAL

    Allocation :

    ACTUAL

    End Date :

    June 1 2015

    Estimated Enrollment :

    50 Patients enrolled

    Trial Details

    Trial ID

    NCT00695500

    Start Date

    June 1 2008

    End Date

    June 1 2015

    Last Update

    August 15 2016

    Active Locations (1)

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    Page 1 of 1 (1 locations)

    1

    National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

    Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892