Translational Neuropsychopharmacology Research of Nicotine Addiction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2020-03-09
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study will examine the effects of combining Varenicline (VRN) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
on neural circuitry function and treating nicotine addiction. Healthy adult nicotine
dependent cigarette smokers interested in quitting (n=110) will be randomized to one of four
PBO-controlled conditions for 4 weeks: 1) VRN+NAC, 2) VRN+PBO, 3) NAC+PBO or 4) PBO+PBO.
Following 1 week of medication, participants will be contingently reinforced for 3 days of
smoking abstinence and be scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
techniques, while nicotine deprived during a resting state and a cue-reactivity (CR) task.
Participants will be followed over the next 3 weeks of treatment and clinical variables will
be assessed.