New Treatment for Alcohol and Nicotine Dependence

NCT ID: NCT01182766

Last Updated: 2025-10-31

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Total Enrollment

236 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2011-11-01

Study Completion Date

2017-10-06

Brief Summary

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This research study aims to test whether topiramate (a drug that is being used for seizure) will help individuals who have problems with both alcohol and nicotine. The investigators believe that individuals taking topiramate will be more successful at abstaining from both alcohol and nicotine than individuals taking placebo.

Detailed Description

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We propose a novel pharmacological strategy for treating alcohol and nicotine dependence concomitantly.

The reinforcing effects of both alcohol and nicotine are mediated through the cortico-mesolimbic dopamine (CMDA) system, and the concomitant use of both drugs enhances their pharmacological effects. We propose a better approach to control dopamine (DA) effects by contemporaneous indirect modulation of DA release and its functional expression. Both DA release from its cell bodies in the ventral tegmental area and the expression of its reinforcing effects through the cortico-mesolimbic system are modulated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) efferents under the tonic control of glutamate-mediated excitatory amino acid pathways. Thus, it is reasonable to hypothesize that a medication that facilitates cortico-mesolimbic GABAergic function and inhibits glutamate action should diminish both nicotine's and alcohol's reinforcing effects by inhibiting the release of midbrain DA and its functional expression through pathways projecting from the nucleus accumbens to the cortex. The promise of this novel approach is exemplified by our recent proof-of-concept demonstration that topiramate compared with placebo significantly improved smoking abstinence rates and decreased serum cotinine levels among alcohol dependent smokers. An important clinical effect of topiramate in alcohol-dependent individuals appears to be that its anti-withdrawal effects promote the gradual tapering of drinking. Hence, due to this unique anti-withdrawal effect of topiramate, we propose to adopt the same methodology for treating alcohol-dependent individuals, as is common practice with smokers, of setting a target quit date (TQD) after which relapse to either drug can be measured. We propose an 18-week, double-blind clinical trial with follow-up visits at 1 month and 3 months, in which alcohol-dependent smokers will receive brief behavioral compliance enhancement treatment (BBCET) plus a smoking self-help manual as their psychosocial treatment, and will be randomized to receive placebo,high-dose topiramate (up to 250 mg/day), or low-dose topiramate (up to 125 mg/day) to prevent relapse to heavy drinking and smoking. Each of the 3 treatment arms shall contain 98 individuals, with a total N of 294.

The TQD will occur at the beginning of the 6th week of treatment. Our primary objective is to determine whether both low- and high-dose topiramate will be more efficacious than placebo at reducing the percentage of heavy drinking days and increasing the continuous abstinence rate for smoking determined by a combination of self-report and carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring after the TQD and in the last 4 weeks of treatment. We also will be able to determine whether a lower dose of topiramate is as efficacious as the higher dose and, therefore, is associated with a lower adverse profile. Our secondary objectives are to test whether topiramate will be more efficacious than placebo at improving quality of life and reducing craving after the TQD and in the last 4 weeks of treatment and whether this improvement will be sustained in the follow-up phase.

Conditions

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Alcohol Dependence Nicotine Dependence

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Low-Dose Topiramate

Low-dose topiramate (125 mg) with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Low-Dose Topiramate

Intervention Type DRUG

Low-dose topiramate (up to 125 mg/day) with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

High-Dose Topiramate

High-dose topiramate (250 mg) with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

High-Dose Topiramate

Intervention Type DRUG

High-dose topiramate (up to 250 mg/day) with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Placebo

Placebo with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Interventions

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Low-Dose Topiramate

Low-dose topiramate (up to 125 mg/day) with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

Placebo with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Intervention Type DRUG

High-Dose Topiramate

High-dose topiramate (up to 250 mg/day) with brief behavioral enhancement therapy

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Topamax sugar pill Topamax

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Males and females who have given written informed consent
* Subjects must be above the age of 18
* Good physical health
* Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV diagnosis of mild to severe alcohol use disorder
* Smoking ≥ 5 cigarettes/day
* Currently drinking at least 8 standard drink units (SDUs) per week for women and at least 15 SDUs per week in the 30 days prior to randomization
* Subjects must provide evidence of stable residence
* The pregnancy test for females of child-bearing potential at screen and prior to randomization must be negative. Additionally, women of child-bearing potential must be using an acceptable form of contraception.
* Literate in English and able to read, understand, and complete the rating scales and questionnaires accurately, follow instructions, and make use of the behavioral treatments
* Willing to participate in a treatment program for alcohol and nicotine dependence

Exclusion Criteria

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Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, San Diego

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Virginia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Nassima Ait-Daoud Tiouririne

Associate Professor, Director of UVA Center for Addiction Research and Education

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Nassima Ait-Daoud Tiouririne, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Virginia

Robert M Anthenelli, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Diego

Paul M Cinciripini, PHD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Bankole A Johnson, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Virginia

Locations

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University of California, San Diego

La Jolla, California, United States

Site Status

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status

University of Virginia Center for Addiction Research & Education

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Site Status

University of Virginia Center for Addiction Research & Education

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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5R01AA019720-02

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

15597

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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