A Trial of Directly Observed and Long-term Varenicline

Brief Summary
This 2 x 2 factorial, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will test two interventions: directly observed medication therapy, and long-term therapy with varenicline among smokers with opioid use disorder recruited from community-based, outpatient opioid treatment programs. The analytic strategy will evaluate the milestones in smoking cessation-achieving initial abstinence, preventing lapse and preventing relapse--necessary for long-term cessation, and evaluate theoretically-guided psychological and social factors and pharmacogenetic factors that influence these cessation processes.
Brief Title
A Trial of Directly Observed and Long-term Varenicline
Detailed Description
Tobacco use and tobacco-related disease are highly prevalent among persons with opioid use disorders (OUD). Unfortunately, traditional evidence-based smoking cessation interventions have yielded low rates of tobacco abstinence in this group. The majority of trials evaluating smoking cessation treatment interventions among persons with OUD have relied on short-term interventions that do not account for the unique challenges faced by these smokers, specifically, establishing initial abstinence, adhering to evidence-based cessation treatments, and maintaining abstinence once active treatments cease. Long-term smoking cessation medication treatment approaches have shown promise in promoting cessation and decreasing relapse among individuals without OUD, however the applicability of extended medication approaches to smokers with OUD may be limited by poor adherence to smoking cessation medications. Though adherence to cessation medication is strongly associated with cessation success, adherence is especially challenging for persons with OUD. Opioid treatment program-based directly observed therapy (DOT) interventions improve clinical outcomes in HIV and TB, and pilot data suggest that DOT varenicline is associated with increased smoking cessation medication adherence and may increase smoking cessation rates. In this 2 x 2 factorial, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the investigators will test two interventions: directly observed medication therapy, and long-term therapy with varenicline. The analytic strategy will evaluate the milestones in smoking cessation-achieving initial abstinence, preventing lapse and preventing relapse--necessary for long-term cessation, and evaluate theoretically-guided psychological and social factors and pharmacogenetic factors that influence these cessation processes. The investigators will recruit smokers with OUD from community-based, outpatient opioid treatment programs and test the following specific aims: (1) to test the efficacy of directly observed varenicline therapy compared to self-administered varenicline therapy on smoking cessation milestones, (2) to test the efficacy of long-term varenicline compared to short-term varenicline on smoking cessation milestones, and (3) to understand the mechanism of smoking cessation by examining the impact of theory-guided psychological and social factors and of pharmacogenetic factors on cessation milestones.
Completion Date
Completion Date Type
Actual
Conditions
Tobacco Use Disorder
Opioid-use Disorder
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1) age ≥18 years old; 2) English or Spanish speaking (i.e., be able to participate in study interviews in English or Spanish); 3) current cigarette smoking (smoked at least 100 cigarettes/lifetime, smoking ≥ 5 cigarettes/day); 4) interest in quitting tobacco smoking; 5) receiving methadone or buprenorphine in the DoSA clinic one to six times weekly; 6) enrollment in a DoSA opioid treatment program ≥ 3 months; 7) stable methadone or buprenorphine dose for two weeks; 8) agreement to use contraception for the duration of the trial (among women with reproductive potential); 9) willingness to participate in all study components; and 10) ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) serious or unstable disease, specifically: decompensated cirrhosis (INR≥ 1.7, albumin \<2.7 g/dl or physical exam evidence of decompensated cirrhosis); severe cardiovascular disease (MI, PTCA, unstable angina, CABG, and/or serious arrhythmia in the previous 6 months); severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (requiring supplemental oxygen or hospitalization in past 6 months); HIV/AIDS (AIDS-defining illness or hospitalization in past 6 months); 2) creatinine clearance \<30 mL/min; 3) history of seizure disorder; 4) women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or contemplating pregnancy; 5) current suicidal ideation; 6) history of suicide attempt in the past year; 7) psychiatric hospitalization in the past year; 8) current DSM V criteria for major depressive episode, current bipolar disorder, or current psychotic disorder; 9) current DSM V criteria for alcohol use disorder; or 10) use of varenicline in the past 30 days.
Inclusion Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1) age ≥18 years old; 2) English or Spanish speaking (i.e., be able to participate in study interviews in English or Spanish); 3) current cigarette smoking (smoked at least 100 cigarettes/lifetime, smoking ≥ 5 cigarettes/day); 4) interest in quitting tobacco smoking; 5) receiving methadone or buprenorphine in the DoSA clinic one to six times weekly; 6) enrollment in a DoSA opioid treatment program ≥ 3 months; 7) stable methadone or buprenorphine dose for two weeks; 8) agreement to use contraception for the duration of the trial (among women with reproductive potential); 9) willingness to participate in all study components; and 10) ability to provide informed consent.

Gender
All
Gender Based
false
Keywords
directly observed therapy
varenicline
long-term pharmacotherapy
Healthy Volunteers
No
Last Update Submit Date
Minimum Age
18 Years
NCT Id
NCT03365362
Org Class
Other
Org Full Name
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Org Study Id
2016-6688
Overall Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Primary Completion Date
Primary Completion Date Type
Actual
Official Title
Achieving Smoking Cessation Milestones in Opioid Treatment Patients: a Randomized 2 x 2 Factorial Trial of Directly Observed and Long-term Varenicline
Primary Outcomes
Outcome Description
Time-to-initial abstinence, defined as a 24 hour period without smoking, will be assessed as Period of ≥ 24 hour self-reported abstinence during the intervention period, will be assessed. Group mean time-to-initial abstinence will be reported.
Outcome Measure
Time-to-initial abstinence
Outcome Time Frame
Up to 24 weeks
Outcome Description
Time-to-lapse, defined as the initial occasion of cigarette smoking after abstinence, will be based on the first day during which subjects smoke, even a puff, after a period of initial abstinence. Group mean number of days to time-to-lapse will be reported.
Outcome Measure
Time-to-lapse
Outcome Time Frame
Up to 24 weeks
Outcome Description
Time-to-relapse, defined as the return to regular cigarette use, will be based on the time first day of seven consecutive days of self-reported smoking after a period of initial abstinence. Group mean number of days to time-to-relapse will be reported.
Outcome Measure
Time to relapse
Outcome Time Frame
Up to 24 weeks
Secondary Ids
Secondary Id
R01DA042813
Secondary Outcomes
Outcome Description
Durability of tobacco abstinence will be assessed using Carbon Monoxide (CO)-verified, 7-day point prevalence abstinence at week 28. Smoking abstinence in accordance with self-reported Timeline Follow Back Method (TLFB), which uses calendar prompts to assess self-reported daily patterns, and verified by expired carbon monoxide (CO) \< 8 ppm, will be reported.
Outcome Time Frame
week 28
Outcome Measure
Durability of 7-day point prevalence tobacco abstinence
Outcome Description
Durability of tobacco abstinence will be assessed using Carbon Monoxide (CO)-verified, 7-day point prevalence abstinence at week 52. Smoking abstinence in accordance with self-reported Timeline Follow Back Method (TLFB), which uses calendar prompts to assess self-reported daily patterns, and verified by expired carbon monoxide (CO) \< 8 ppm, will be reported.
Outcome Time Frame
week 52
Outcome Measure
Durability of 7-day point prevalence tobacco abstinence
Outcome Description
Group mean of self-reported number of cigarettes smoked per day will be obtained via self-reported TLFB and summarized per group.
Outcome Time Frame
24 weeks
Outcome Measure
Number of Cigarettes smoked per day
Outcome Description
Nicotine dependence will be assessed using Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND). FTND is a 6-item instrument designed to provide an ordinal measure of nicotine dependence related to cigarette smoking. Specifically, the FTND evaluates the quantity of cigarette consumption, the compulsion to use, and dependence. Three Yes/No items are scored as either 0 (No) or 1 (Yes). Two multiple-choice items are either scored from 0-3 or 1-3, with higher scores signifying greater nicotine dependence. A final question, "Which cigarette would you hate to give up?" with 'First in the Morning' scored as 1 and 'Any other' scored as 0. The FTND yields an overall score of 0-10. An overall score of 1-2 = "Lowest Dependence", 3-4 = "Low to Moderate Dependence", 5-7 = "Moderate Dependence", and 8+ = "High Dependence"
Outcome Time Frame
24 weeks
Outcome Measure
Nicotine dependence
Outcome Description
Quality of Life will be assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12 (SF-12). The SF-12 is a 12-item general health questionnaire, derived from the Medical Outcomes Study 36 item Short Form Survey (SF-36), is designed to have similar performance as the SF-36, while taking less time to complete. The SF-12 asks a series of questions measuring eight health domains assessing both physical (PCS-12) and mental health (MCS-12). Two summary scores are generated: a mental component score (MCS-12), and a physical component score (PCS-12). Scores for both range from 0-100 with higher scores indicating better physical and mental health functioning, respectively. A score of 50 or less on the PCS-12 has been recommended as a cut-off to determine a physical condition, while a score of 42 or less on the MCS-12 may be indicative of 'clinical depression'. Group mean scores will be reported.
Outcome Time Frame
24 weeks
Outcome Measure
Quality of life - Physical and Mental Health (SF-36)
Start Date
Start Date Type
Actual
Status Verified Date
First Submit Date
First Submit QC Date
Std Ages
Adult
Older Adult
Maximum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
999
Minimum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
18
Investigators
Investigator Type
Principal Investigator
Investigator Name
Shadi Nahvi
Investigator Email
snahvi@montefiore.org