Adaptive Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation

Duke University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Nicotine Dependence

Treatments: Drug: Varenicline Adaptive Protocol; Behavioral: Varenicline Standard Protocol; Drug: Nicotine Adaptive Protocol; Behavioral: Nicotine Patch Standard Protocol

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02501265

P50DA027840 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Pro00072077

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to assess an "adaptive" approach to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. The protocol is designed to compare adaptive vs. standard approaches to two common smoking cessation pharmacotherapies - Varenicline (commonly known as Chantix) and the Nicotine Patch. The investigators hypothesize that participants allocated to adaptive therapy will show significantly higher biochemically confirmed 30-day continuous abstinence at 12 weeks post-Target Quit Day (TQD).

Full description

The purpose of this study is to assess an "adaptive" approach to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. The protocol is designed to compare adaptive vs. standard approaches to two common smoking cessation pharmacotherapies (Varenicline and Nicotine Patch). The adaptive treatment approach provides the addition of Bupropion in the pre-quit period for participants who are not "responding" to initial treatment. Little is known about the adaptive use of Varenicline or Nicotine Patch, in which Bupropion is added to Varenicline or Patch for those who do not respond to one of these medications in a pre-quit treatment period. This study attempts to address these knowledge deficits. The study (N=300) is a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial designed to compare biochemically-confirmed abstinence rates in smokers randomized to Varenicline Adaptive Protocol vs. Varenicline (N=150) and for comparison, Nicotine Patch Adaptive Protocol vs. Nicotine Patch (N=150). The "Varenicline Adaptive Protocol" is conducted by starting treatment with Varenicline 4 weeks prior to the quit day and following each participant's response to this pre-treatment medication. After 2 weeks, if the patient shows a reduction greater than 50% in cigarettes smoked per day, then the patient is considered to be a "Varenicline responder" and is continued on Varenicline alone out to 12-weeks post quit day. If the patient does not spontaneously decrease smoking in the pre-quit period by more than 50% cigarettes per day, the patient is considered to be a "Varenicline non-responder" and Bupropion is added to the Varenicline. For comparison, an identical protocol is used with nicotine patch vs. nicotine patch adaptive treatment. The study uses only FDA-approved medications: Varenicline, Nicotine Patch, Bupropion, and placebo controls. To pattern clinical practice, participants will be able to choose whether they would like to use a patch or Varenicline-based treatment. After choosing, however, they will be randomized to adaptive vs. non-adaptive version of that treatment. Placebo medications are matched throughout the study. Participants will be blinded to all medications. All participants will receive behavioral treatment including a single 40-minute visit with a medical provider. The study is designed to provide researchers and clinicians with a better understanding of how to use adaptive pharmacotherapy protocols to improve smoking cessation rates.

Enrollment: 188 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Actively smoking 5 or more cigarettes per day for at least one year
3. Fluency in spoken and written English
4. Willing to set a quit date within 6 weeks
5. Access to a telephone
6. Willingness to take Varenicline OR nicotine patch (patient choice)
7. Willingness to take Bupropion

Exclusion Criteria

1. Daily use of a second form of tobacco or nicotine (e.g. e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff).
2. Current use of a smoking cessation medication (e.g. nicotine replacement, Varenicline, Bupropion).
3. Report of pregnancy, attempting to get pregnant, or actively breast feeding or positive urine pregnancy test (only given to females with child bearing potential).
4. Additional criteria may apply.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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188 participants in 4 patient groups

Varenicline Standard Protocol

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participant choses Varenicline-based treatment and is then randomized to Standard Treatment arm (N=75). Four weeks prior to target quit date (TQD), participant starts placebo Varenicline. Consistent with Varenicline Standard Treatment, 1 week prior to the TQD the participant will switch to active Varenicline and placebo Bupropion. Participant will continue active Varenicline and placebo Bupropion to 12 weeks post-TQD.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Varenicline Standard Protocol

Nicotine Patch Standard Protocol

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participant choses Nicotine patch-based treatment and is then randomized to Standard Treatment arm (N=75). Four weeks prior to target quit date (TQD), participant starts placebo Nicotine Patch. One week prior to TQD, participant will start placebo Bupropion. Consistent with Nicotine Patch Standard Treatment, participant will start active Nicotine Patch on TQD. Participant will continue active Nicotine Patch and placebo Bupropion to 12 weeks post-TQD.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Nicotine Patch Standard Protocol

Varenicline Adaptive Protocol

Experimental group

Description:

Participant chooses Varenicline treatment and is randomized to Adaptive Treatment arm (N=75). Four weeks prior to target quit date (TQD), participant starts active Varenicline. Two weeks prior to TQD, cigarettes smoked per day is assessed. If the number of cigarettes smoked per day is reduced by \>50%, the participant is considered a Varenicline responder, and starts placebo Bupropion 1 week prior to the TQD. If the participant DOES NOT reduce cigarettes smoked per day by \>50%, the participant is considered a Varenicline non-responder and starts active Bupropion 1 week prior to TQD. Varenicline responders will continue active Varenicline and placebo Bupropion to 12 weeks post TQD. Varenicline non-responders will continue active Varenicline and active Bupropion to 12 weeks post TQD.

Treatment:

Drug: Varenicline Adaptive Protocol

Nicotine Patch Adaptive Protocol

Experimental group

Description:

Participant choses Nicotine treatment and is randomized to Adaptive Treatment arm (N=75). Four weeks prior to target quit date (TQD), participant starts active Nicotine Patches. Two weeks prior to TQD, cigarettes smoked per day is assessed. If cigarettes smoked per day is reduced by \>50%, the participant is considered a Nicotine Patch responder and starts placebo Bupropion 1 week prior to the TQD. If the participant DOES NOT reduce cigarettes smoked per day by \>50%, the participant is considered a Nicotine Patch non-responder and starts active Bupropion 1 week prior to the TQD. Nicotine Patch responders will continue active Nicotine Patches and placebo Bupropion to 12 weeks post TQD. Nicotine Patch non-responders will continue active Nicotine Patches and Bupropion to 12 weeks post TQD.

Treatment:

Drug: Nicotine Adaptive Protocol