Trial Outcomes & Findings for Use of Varenicline for 4-weeks Prior to Quitting (NCT NCT00789074)

NCT ID: NCT00789074

Last Updated: 2013-12-12

Results Overview

The scale measures tobacco withdrawal symptoms (depressed, irritable, restless, hungry, poor concentration, slept worse than usual) on 5-point scales from Not at all (rated as 1) to Extremely (rated as 5). It also asks 'How much of the time have you felt the urge to smoke in the last week? and 'How strong have these urges been?'; both rated on 6-point scales with higher numbers=higher craving.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE3

Target enrollment

101 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

24 hours and 7 days after quit date (week 4)

Results posted on

2013-12-12

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Varenicline Pre-treatmemt
Participants will use varenicline (1mg BD) 4-weeks prior to quitting
Placebo
Participants will use 3 weeks of placebo, followed by 1 week of varenicline, prior to quitting
Overall Study
STARTED
53
48
Overall Study
COMPLETED
42
35
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
11
13

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Use of Varenicline for 4-weeks Prior to Quitting

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Varenicline Pre-treatmemt
n=53 Participants
Participants will use varenicline (1mg BD) 4-weeks prior to quitting
Placebo
n=48 Participants
Participants will use 3 weeks of placebo, followed by 1 week of varenicline, prior to quitting
Total
n=101 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
49 Participants
n=5 Participants
47 Participants
n=7 Participants
96 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age Continuous
45.91 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.439 • n=5 Participants
45.29 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.941 • n=7 Participants
45.61 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.153 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
17 Participants
n=7 Participants
36 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
34 Participants
n=5 Participants
31 Participants
n=7 Participants
65 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United Kingdom
53 participants
n=5 Participants
48 participants
n=7 Participants
101 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 24 hours and 7 days after quit date (week 4)

Population: Were abstinent and provided data at 24 hours post quit date

The scale measures tobacco withdrawal symptoms (depressed, irritable, restless, hungry, poor concentration, slept worse than usual) on 5-point scales from Not at all (rated as 1) to Extremely (rated as 5). It also asks 'How much of the time have you felt the urge to smoke in the last week? and 'How strong have these urges been?'; both rated on 6-point scales with higher numbers=higher craving.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Varenicline
n=34 Participants
Placebo
n=29 Participants
Rating of Urges to Smoke 24 Hours and One Week After the Target Quit Date Assessed by Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale
2.47 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.13
2.88 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.15

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline - week 8

Population: Participants that provided data at all time points

Carbon monoxide concentration is measured in particles per million. It indicates smoke intake. CO was measured at each contact to monitor changes in smoke intake and differences between the study arms.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Varenicline
n=47 Participants
Placebo
n=40 Participants
Change in Pre-quit End-expired Carbon Monoxide Reading (CO)
-14.85 ppm
Standard Deviation 11.08
-7.68 ppm
Standard Deviation 10.34

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Weeks 1-4 (the first 4-weeks after first medication dose)

Population: All participants that provided data at all time points

Differences in baseline cotinine levels were compared with cotinine levels measured 4 weeks after taking the first medication dose.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Varenicline
n=47 Participants
Placebo
n=41 Participants
Change in Pre-quit Cotinine Levels
-184.69 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 156.02
-44.73 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 114.56

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline - week 4

Population: Participants who provided ratings of cigarette satisfaction at each visit

Satisfaction measured on a scale of 1-5; "Have you found your cigarettes more or less enjoyable than usual in the last week?" 1= much more and 5 = much less

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Varenicline
n=40 Participants
Placebo
n=38 Participants
Change in Pre-quit Ratings of Cigarette Satisfaction
-1.48 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.66
-0.842 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.26

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline - week 4

Population: All participants that provided data at each session

Participants reported average number of cigarettes smoked per day every week throughout the four week pre-quit period.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Varenicline
n=46 Participants
Placebo
n=40 Participants
Change in Pre-quit Cigarette Consumption
-9.78 Cigarettes consumed per day
Standard Deviation 9.67
-5.68 Cigarettes consumed per day
Standard Deviation 7.29

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 4 - 8

Population: Participants who were abstinent at 1 week and provided data on withdrawal symptoms

Change in the Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale (MPSS)\*, scores of urges to smoke and cigarette withdrawal symptoms throughout the first four weeks of abstinence (measured weekly from weeks 4-8). \* The MPSS measures cigarette withdrawal symptoms. The scale is 1-5, 1 being not at all and 5 being extremely (depressed, irritable, restless, hungry, poor concentration, slept worse than usual).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Varenicline
n=35 Participants
Placebo
n=25 Participants
Change in MPSS Scores of Urges to Smoke and Cigarette Withdrawal Symptoms Throughout the First Four Weeks of Abstinence
0.15 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.68
0.15 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.53

Adverse Events

Varenicline Pre-treatmemt

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 34 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Placebo

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 22 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Varenicline Pre-treatmemt
n=53 participants at risk
Participants will use varenicline (1mg BD) 4-weeks prior to quitting
Placebo
n=48 participants at risk
Participants will use 3 weeks of placebo, followed by 1 week of varenicline, prior to quitting
Cardiac disorders
Acute Myocardial infarction
1.9%
1/53 • Number of events 1
0.00%
0/48
Cardiac disorders
Musculoskeletal chest pain
0.00%
0/53
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Varenicline Pre-treatmemt
n=53 participants at risk
Participants will use varenicline (1mg BD) 4-weeks prior to quitting
Placebo
n=48 participants at risk
Participants will use 3 weeks of placebo, followed by 1 week of varenicline, prior to quitting
Gastrointestinal disorders
Nausea
64.2%
34/53 • Number of events 34
45.8%
22/48 • Number of events 22
Psychiatric disorders
Abnormal dreams
26.4%
14/53 • Number of events 14
14.6%
7/48 • Number of events 7
General disorders
Headache
22.6%
12/53 • Number of events 12
14.6%
7/48 • Number of events 7
Psychiatric disorders
Sleep disturbance
18.9%
10/53 • Number of events 10
12.5%
6/48 • Number of events 6
Gastrointestinal disorders
Constipation
13.2%
7/53 • Number of events 7
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1
General disorders
Drowsiness
11.3%
6/53 • Number of events 6
4.2%
2/48 • Number of events 2
Gastrointestinal disorders
Dyspepsia
11.3%
6/53 • Number of events 6
14.6%
7/48 • Number of events 7
Gastrointestinal disorders
Abdominal pain
9.4%
5/53 • Number of events 5
8.3%
4/48 • Number of events 4
General disorders
Sweating
9.4%
5/53 • Number of events 5
0.00%
0/48
Psychiatric disorders
Depression
7.5%
4/53 • Number of events 4
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1
Gastrointestinal disorders
Diarrhoea
7.5%
4/53 • Number of events 4
4.2%
2/48 • Number of events 2
Nervous system disorders
Fatigue
7.5%
4/53 • Number of events 4
6.2%
3/48 • Number of events 3
Nervous system disorders
Light headedness
7.5%
4/53 • Number of events 4
0.00%
0/48
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Muscularskeletal pain
7.5%
4/53 • Number of events 4
6.2%
3/48 • Number of events 3
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Cough
5.7%
3/53 • Number of events 3
0.00%
0/48
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Flu like symptoms
5.7%
3/53 • Number of events 3
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1
Gastrointestinal disorders
Mouth ulceration
5.7%
3/53 • Number of events 3
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1
General disorders
Poor concentration
5.7%
3/53 • Number of events 3
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Skin irritation/rash
5.7%
3/53 • Number of events 3
2.1%
1/48 • Number of events 1
Gastrointestinal disorders
Vomiting
5.7%
3/53 • Number of events 3
4.2%
2/48 • Number of events 2
General disorders
Bleeding gums
1.9%
1/53 • Number of events 1
6.2%
3/48 • Number of events 3
General disorders
Chest pain - not specified
1.9%
1/53 • Number of events 1
6.2%
3/48 • Number of events 3

Additional Information

Professor Peter Hajek

Queen Mary University of London

Phone: +44 207 882 8231

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place