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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05994703

Assisting Smokers to Switch to an e-Cigarette by Accelerating Learning of Adaptive Habits Using D-cycloserine

This study will evaluate the effects of a reward devaluation strategy, which has been researched in the past, combined/augmented with the medication d-cycloserine in assisting smokers to switch from combustible cigarette (CC) to Juul.

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Key information

Age range

22 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Rose Research Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Has signed the informed consent form (ICF) and is able to understand the information provided in the ICF.
  • Is 22 to 65 years of age (inclusive) at screening.
  • Smokes ≥ 10 commercially available CCs per day (no brand restrictions), for the last 12 months.
  • Expired air CO reading of at least 10 ppm as assessed at the screening session.
  • Interested in switching to an electronic cigarette.
  • Willing and able to comply with the requirements of the study.
  • Owns a smart phone with text message and data capabilities compatible with necessary surveys.

Exclusion criteria

  • Is unhealthy or cannot participate in the study for any reason (e.g., medical, psychiatric, and/or social reason) as judged by the Investigator or designated medical staff based on all available assessments from the screening period (e.g., safety laboratory, vital signs, physical examination, ECG, concomitant medications and medical history).
  • Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score greater than 9, or a score greater than 0 on item #9 ("Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way") at screening.
  • Planned use of an FDA-approved smoking cessation product during the study.
  • High Blood Pressure (systolic >150 mm Hg, diastolic >95 mm Hg) at screening.
  • Body mass index (BMI) less than 15.0 kg/m2 or greater than 40.0 kg/m2.
  • Coronary heart disease, structural cardiac disease (including, but not limited to valvular heart disease or cardiac murmurs), cardiac dysrhythmias, syncope, cardiac chest pain, or history of heart attack or heart failure.
  • Has received psychotherapy or behavioral treatments within 30 days of screening, or during the study.
  • Taking antidepressants or psychoactive medications (e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, hypnotics).
  • Use of any of these products in the past 30 days:
  • Illegal drugs (or if the urine drug screen is positive for cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamines, methamphetamines, or opiates);
  • Experimental (investigational) drugs that are unknown to participant;
  • Chronic opiate use;
  • Medications to treat tuberculosis (e.g., isoniazid, ethionamide).
  • Use of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff), cigars (except for "Black & Mild" cigars or Cigarillos), pipes, hookah, e-cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy or other smoking cessation treatments within 14 days of screening.
  • Pregnant or nursing (by self-report) or positive pregnancy test.

Treatment and study plan

D-cycloserine

Drug

d-cycloserine (DCS) 100 mg taken orally, once a day for six weeks.

Juul e-cigarette

Other

Juul use as often as the participant likes for 12 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Smoking Abstinence based on Self-Report

    Time frame: During weeks 3-6 and 9-12 post-switching date.

    Complete switching from combustible cigarette use at each time point will be defined by a self-report of no cigarette smoking (not even a puff) since the prior session.

  2. Smoking Abstinence based on Expired Air Carbon Monoxide (CO)

    Time frame: End of Week 6, End of Week 12

    Complete switching from combustible cigarette use at each time point will be confirmed by an expired air CO reading of less than 5 ppm.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Reduction in Cigarettes Per Day

    Time frame: Week 6, Week 12, Six-Month Follow-Up

    Reduction in the number of reports cigarettes smoked per day over the previous seven days (at each time point) compared to baseline.

  2. Reduction in Expired Air Carbon Monoxide (CO)

    Time frame: End of Week 6, End of Week 12

    Reduction in Expired Air Carbon Monoxide (CO) compared to baseline.

  3. Change in rewarding effects for cigarettes and e-cigarettes at 6 weeks post switch

    Time frame: End of Week 6

    o assess subjective satisfaction and other perceived rewarding or aversive effects accompanying e-cigarette use and combustible cigarette use using the modified (e-Cigarette) Cigarette Evaluation Questionnaire. This questionnaire contains five subscale scores: smoking satisfaction (satisfying, tastes good, enjoy smoking), psychological rewards (calms down, more awake, less irritable, helps concentrate, reduces hunger), aversion (dizziness, nauseated), enjoyment of respiratory tract sensations (single-item assessment), craving reduction (single-item assessment). Participants will be asked to assess the 12 items of the questionnaire on a 7-point scale, ranging from "1-not at all" to "7-extremely".

Other outcomes

  1. Tolerability of daily use of D-cycloserine in conjunction with Juul

    Time frame: Week 2, Week 6, Week 8, Week 12

    The frequency and severity of adverse events will be tabulated as well as the likelihood of their causal relationship to treatment.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rose Research Center, LLC

Industry

Collaborators

  • Foundation for a Smoke Free World INC

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 16, 2023
Registry last updated
Jan 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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