Guanfacine Clinical Trial for Smoking Cessation

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-65
• Able to read, write and comprehend English
• Smoker
• Able to take oral medications and willing to adhere to a medication regimen
• Provide evidence of a stable living residence in the last 2 months, have reasonable transportation to the study site, and have no plans to move within the next 3 months or unresolved legal problems

Exclusion criteria

• Any significant current medical conditions that would contraindicate smoking
• Current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) abuse or dependence of other substances, other than nicotine dependence or alcohol abuse
• Positive test results at intake appointment on urine drug screen for illicit drugs
• Past 30 days use of any psychoactive drugs including anxiolytics and antidepressants
• Women who are pregnant or nursing
• Suicidal, homicidal or evidence of current mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression, or anxiety disorders
• Meeting DSM-IV criteria for current attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Individuals who are currently taking medications known to be effective for smoking cessation or are regular users of other tobacco products in the past 30 days
• Only one member per household can participate in the study
• Specific exclusions for administration of guanfacine not already specified include:
• EKG evidence at baseline screening for any clinically significant conduction abnormalities or arrhythmias
• Known intolerance for guanfacine or any alpha blocker
• History of fainting, syncopal attacks
• Heart failure or myocardial infarction
• Impaired liver (as indicated by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >3x normal)
• Renal function (as indicated by estimated creatinine clearance <60cc/min)
• Treatment with any antihypertensive drug or any alpha-adrenergic blocker
• Use of any central nervous system depressant (e.g., phenothiazines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines)
• Use of strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole) or inducers (e.g., rifampin), or consumption of grapefruit juice
• Subjects may not have donated blood in the past 8 weeks or have been involved in other investigational studies that involve substantial blood draws or medications unknown to us