View clinical trials related to Nicotine Dependence.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of varenicline treatment on cue induced craving to smoking using brain imaging. The investigators hypothesize that participants will report reduced urges to smoke and will have less activation in parts of the brain associated with craving.
This research study is being done to find out if adding a moderate exercise program or a relaxation program to a smoking cessation treatment program will improve smoking cessation and health in postmenopausal women. We hope to learn which group is more successful at quitting, has less symptoms of withdrawal from smoking and has improved health.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to block craving for cigarettes in smokers. rTMS is an investigational procedure, where a device called a "stimulator" provides electricity to a device that creates a magnetic field. This device is placed against the scalp in the front of the head so that the magnetic field is focused on an area of the brain that is thought to be involved in craving for cigarettes. rTMS is an investigational procedure so therefore being tested in research studies and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Changes in magnetic fields during rTMS administration change electrical currents which may affect brain activity and function.
Nicotine dependence is prevalent in society, cigarette smoking is associated with several known health risks, and most dependent individuals find it very difficult to stop smoking cigarettes. The present study will test the efficacy of a behavioral smoking cessation treatment, prize-based contingency management, that has not undergone rigorous study with respect to smoking, it but has demonstrated efficacy in reducing use of other substances (e.g. cocaine). If efficacious, prize-based contingency management would add to our repertoire of efficacious smoking cessation treatments.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether extended pretreatment with varenicline (Chantix) is more efficacious for smoking cessation than standard pretreatment, how well varenicline is tolerated in heavy drinking smokers, and whether varenicline reduces alcohol consumption.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between craving to smoke and areas activated in brain. The researchers are using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that measures brain blood flow, or perfusion, to study this brain activation.
The purpose of this study is to test two quit smoking therapies and to study brain function while each therapy is being used. You will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of the two groups. The first therapy is Extinction-Based therapy (EBT). If you are in this group, you will switch to smoking denicotinized cigarettes while wearing a 21 mg/d nicotine patch for one month prior to your quit date. The second therapy is a standard Nicotine Replacement therapy (NRT). If you are in this group, you will smoke your usual brand of cigarettes up to the quit date. Following the quit date, both groups will undergo standard nicotine replacement therapy (21 mg/d for 6 weeks; 14 mg/d for 2 weeks, 7 mg/d for 2 weeks). In addition to the above, we will recruit a sample of former smokers who are now regular users of e-cigarettes. This group [ECIG] will undergo the same screening and baseline assessments as the EBT and NRT groups up to the completion of fMRI1.
Background: - Chronic nicotine exposure through cigarette smoking affects the level of the brain chemical dopamine. Smokers who attempt to quit experience lower levels of dopamine, which increases anxiety and triggers nicotine cravings that make quitting more difficult. - Varenicline (Chantix) is a smoking cessation medication that is designed to reduce nicotine craving and withdrawal by slightly increasing levels of dopamine in the brain. Research has shown that varenicline is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for nicotine dependence, but researchers are interested in learning more about how it affects the brain and its function. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) will help researchers study the brain s response to nicotine and varenicline. Objectives: - To explore how varenicline affects brain function and behavioral performance in current smokers and healthy volunteers. Eligibility: - Individuals between 18 and 55 years of age who are either current smokers (10 or more cigarettes per day) or healthy nonsmoking volunteers. Design: - The study will involve nine testing and research visits over 5 to 6 weeks. The first visit will provide an initial assessment and training on the tasks that will be completed during the study. - Six testing visits will involve fMRI and EEG measurements of brain activity. Each visit will contain two 2-hour scanning sessions, and each session will involve thinking tests. During these visits, participants will receive varenicline and placebo tablets, and wear nicotine patches and placebo patches that do not contain nicotine. Participants will not be told which tablet or patch they are given. This is a crossover study so all participants eventually get nicotine and placebo, as well as varenicline and placebo. - Two other visits involve different thinking tasks. These visits will not require fMRI or EEG scans.
The purpose of this study is to determine how people react to different combinations of alcohol and nicotine.
Varenicline (Chantix™, Pfizer) is a novel selective nicotinic receptor partial agonist with specificity for the α4β2 nicotine acetylcholine receptor that has demonstrated remarkable efficacy for increasing long-term tobacco abstinence rates in cigarette smokers. The novel mechanism of action of varenicline potentially circumvents the limitations of using nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion pharmacotherapy in ST users. The overall goal of this line of research is to develop effective pharmacologic treatments for ST users to increase long-term (≥ 6 months) abstinence rates. The central hypothesis of this application is that varenicline is efficacious for the treatment of ST users.