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Varenicline attenuates some of the subjective and physiological effects of intravenous nicotine in humans

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Abstract

Rationale

Varenicline, a partial nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist, is approved for smoking cessation. A few preclinical studies examined the pharmacological effects of varenicline, alone or in combination with nicotine. How varenicline affects the pharmacological effects of pure nicotine has not been examined in humans. The goal of this study was to characterize varenicline’s actions on nicotine’s dose-dependent effects in abstinent smokers.

Methods

Six male and six female smokers participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Smokers had two 4-day treatment periods, assigned in random sequence, to varenicline (1 mg/day) or placebo treatment. On day 4 of each treatment phase, smokers had an experimental session, where they received three escalating doses of intravenous (IV) nicotine (0.1, 0.4, and 0.7 mg/70 kg), in 30-min intervals. Varenicline’s effects were assessed through subjective, physiological, and cognitive performance outcomes to nicotine administered via IV route.

Results

In response to IV nicotine, varenicline treatment attenuated the rating of drug strength, high, head rush, and stimulated. Varenicline also attenuated nicotine-induced increases in heart rate. Varenicline had mixed effects on cognitive performance. Smokers under varenicline treatment, compared with placebo, reported enhanced positive mood measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of action of varenicline in smoking cessation.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Ellen Mitchell, R.N., Lance Barnes, and Stacy Minnix for excellent technical assistance. This research was supported by the Veterans Administration Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) grants R01-DA 14537, K02-DA021304 (MS), and K01-DA-019446 (MM). MM has received a research grants from Pfizer Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Yale University School of Medicine, 950 Campbell Ave., Bldg. 36/116A4, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Mehmet Sofuoglu & Aryeh I. Herman

  2. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Marc Mooney

  3. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MA, USA

    Andrew J. Waters

Authors
  1. Mehmet Sofuoglu
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  2. Aryeh I. Herman
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  3. Marc Mooney
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  4. Andrew J. Waters
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehmet Sofuoglu.

Additional information

This research was supported by the Veterans Administration Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant K02-DA-021304 (MS).

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Sofuoglu, M., Herman, A.I., Mooney, M. et al. Varenicline attenuates some of the subjective and physiological effects of intravenous nicotine in humans. Psychopharmacology 207, 153–162 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1643-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1643-z

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