Effects of Varenicline on Abstinence and Smoking Reward Following a Programmed Lapse
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 05/14/2012
Clinical Article
McClure EA et al. – The results demonstrate a relapse prevention effect of varenicline following smoking lapse exposure and suggest that an attenuation of reward from smoking and the blunting of subjective effects of smoking may underlie and/or contribute to this effect.
Methods- Daily smokers (N = 47) completed a 5-week outpatient study in which they were randomized to receive varenicline or placebo.
- The first week was a medication induction period that was immediately followed by a 4-week quit attempt.
- A programmed lapse (2 cigarettes smoked in the laboratory) occurred on the second day of the quit attempt.
- Participants receiving varenicline were slower to relapse and had greater total abstinence rates following lapse exposure.
- Participants in the varenicline group rated lapse cigarettes lower on measures of reward and intoxication and showed increased behavioral economic demand elasticity for cigarettes (reduced cigarette purchasing at higher prices) compared with those receiving placebo.
