A Pilot Clinical Trial of Varenicline as a Treatment for Alcohol Dependence

Hazardous alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are an area of large unmet medical needs. Although there has been some progress with pharmacotherapy for alcohol-dependent individuals, a critical need for the development of novel and additional therapeutic approaches remains. Pharmacotherapy development for AUDs as a therapeutic area has had several recent advancements, where clinically as well as commercially successful additions to available treatment options are available and several more are expected in the near future. Based on recent preclinical work, we believe that varenicline has potential to become one of the first among those newly evolving treatments.

In this study, participants with nicotine dependence will receive standard varenicline or placebo treatment over the recommended course of 12 weeks. Since our research question addresses whether alcohol drinking also diminishes with varenicline treatment, we will not ask participants to alter alcohol use; we will simply follow their use over time. Study visits will take place at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center. The procedures to be completed include vital signs, blood samples at screening and end of study, urine toxicology screening and the completion of standard questionnaires. No special facilities are required for these procedures. Group therapy (which is not a research procedure, but part of standard nicotine dependence treatment) will take place at the Gallo Center.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 21 and 75 years.
• Currently seeking treatment for nicotine dependence (smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily) and found to have problem drinking, alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence (non-physiological) as determined by amount of alcohol consumed weekly (Average weekly alcohol consumption (last 30 days), >7 standard drinks (for women) or >14 standard drinks (for men), clinical interview, and AUDIT score > 8.
• Generally healthy, without serious or unstable medical/mental illness(es).
• Smokers only will be included (degree of nicotine dependence will be assessed and included in analysis).
• Able to give voluntary, written, informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• More than 30 days of abstinence from alcohol in the prior 90 days.
• History of major alcohol-related complications within the preceding 2 years (liver failure/cirrhosis, pancreatitis, esophageal varices, liver function tests > 3 X ULN).
• Intolerance to the study medication.
• Current psychiatric disorder(s) requiring clinical treatment.
• Any recent history (i.e. within the preceding 5 years) of suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation.
• Use of illicit or non-prescribed psychotropic drug use (opiates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, PCP, methamphetamine, cocaine, or marijuana more than twice a week).
• A history of complicated alcohol or other drug withdrawal syndrome(s), e.g.: delirium tremens or seizures.