tDCS Plus Varenicline for Smoking Cessation

NCT ID: NCT06798324

Last Updated: 2025-08-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 160 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-10
• Study Completion Date: 2028-08-01

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) plus varenicline is an effective, safe and accessible treatment option for smoking cessation. The main questions this trial aims to answer are:

1. Does active tDCS plus varenicline improve short-term and long-term smoking abstinence rates compared to sham tDCS plus varenicline?

2. Are the safety profiles between active tDCS plus varenicline and sham tDCS plus varenicline different?

The tDCS treatment schedule includes 10 daily sessions for the first 2 weeks (M to F), followed by 5 single bi-weekly booster sessions for the remainder of the treatment period. Participants will come in-person for two follow-up sessions to assess smoking behaviour at 6- and 12-months post-treatment.

Detailed Description

Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer globally, with cigarette smokers being about 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. Despite the availability of effective treatments and extensive public health efforts, quitting smoking remains a significant challenge. Varenicline is currently the most effective medication for smoking cessation, yet most users relapse within the first year. No new medications for smoking cessation have come to market in the past two decades, and as such there is a critical need to optimize existing treatments. Combining treatment modalities can produce therapeutic synergism and improve overall treatment outcomes. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have become a popular area of research as a treatment option for substance use disorders with growing evidence of their effectiveness for a variety of addictions. One of these techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has demonstrated potential in modulating the neuroadaptations associated with chronic smoking and relapse risk. A prior pilot study in our lab found that adjunct active tDCS doubled varenicline's effectiveness at end of treatment. Therefore, the objectives for this trial are as follows:

1. To determine the short-term efficacy of active anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC plus varenicline compared to sham tDCS plus varenicline.

2. To determine the effect of active anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC plus varenicline on sustained abstinence over time.

3. To determine the safety of active anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC plus varenicline compared to sham tDCS plus varenicline.

This study will be a double-blind sham-controlled randomized clinical trial whereby 160 daily cigarette smokers will be recruited. After confirming eligibility at an assessment visit, participants will be randomized (1:1) to one of two groups: 1) Experimental group of active tDCS sessions plus 12 weeks of 1 mg varenicline bid (n=80); and 2) Control group of sham tDCS sessions plus 12 weeks of 1 mg varenicline bid (n=80). Participants will start varenicline treatment on the same day as the first tDCS session, and will follow a standard dose escalation schedule. The tDCS treatment schedule includes 10 daily sessions for the first 2 weeks (M to F), followed by 5 in-person bi-weekly booster sessions for the remainder of the treatment period, and then 2 in-person follow-up sessions to assess smoking behaviour at 6- and 12-months post-treatment. At the 1st daily session, participants will come in-person to be trained on using the tDCS device and provided with a study kit including all relevant study equipment. The following 8 daily sessions will occur remotely, and be monitored by research personnel over Webex. The 10th daily tDCS session will occur in-person, with participants returning the study kit. All 5 bi-weekly booster sessions will occur in-person. Total Study duration (with follow-up) is 12 months.

Conditions

Nicotine Dependence; Tobacco Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Nicotine Use Disorder; Tobacco Use Disorder; Substance Use Disorders

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Experimental Group (Active tDCS plus Varenicline)

The experimental group will receive active tDCS sessions plus 12 weeks of 1 mg varenicline bid. Participants will start varenicline treatment on the same day as the first tDCS session, and will follow a standard dose escalation schedule. The tDCS treatment schedule includes 10 daily sessions for the first 2 weeks (M to F), followed by 5 single bi-weekly booster sessions for the remainder of the treatment period. Participants will come in-person for two follow-up sessions to assess smoking behaviour at 6- and 12-months post-treatment.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation. Active tDCS involves brief (e.g., 20-min) application of weak electric current (e.g., 2 mA) to the scalp. The tDCS device that will be used for this study is the Soterix 1x1 mini-CT.

Varenicline 1mg BID

Intervention Type: DRUG

Varenicline is the most effective approved treatment for quitting smoking. Varenicline as per standard prescribing for dose escalation (i.e. Days 1 to 3: 0.5 mg once daily; Days 4 to 7: 0.5 mg twice daily; Days 8 to end of treatment: 1 mg twice daily) will be given concurrently over the same 2 weeks as the tDCS protocol and continue for an additional 10 weeks as per standard treatment duration recommended on the product monograph for a total of 12 weeks of varenicline treatment. Dose adjustments due to adverse events will be allowed (i.e. decrease to 0.5 mg twice daily).

The target quit date for smoking cessation will be on the last day of the two weeks of daily tDCS which corresponds to the recommended quit date after starting varenicline treatment.

Control Group

The control group will receive sham (fake) tDCS sessions plus 12 weeks of 1 mg varenicline bid. Participants will start varenicline treatment on the same day as the first tDCS session, and will follow a standard dose escalation schedule. The tDCS treatment schedule includes 10 daily sessions for the first 2 weeks (M to F), followed by 5 single bi-weekly booster sessions for the remainder of the treatment period. Participants will come in-person for two follow-up sessions to assess smoking behaviour at 6- and 12-months post-treatment.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Varenicline 1mg BID

Intervention Type: DRUG

Varenicline is the most effective approved treatment for quitting smoking. Varenicline as per standard prescribing for dose escalation (i.e. Days 1 to 3: 0.5 mg once daily; Days 4 to 7: 0.5 mg twice daily; Days 8 to end of treatment: 1 mg twice daily) will be given concurrently over the same 2 weeks as the tDCS protocol and continue for an additional 10 weeks as per standard treatment duration recommended on the product monograph for a total of 12 weeks of varenicline treatment. Dose adjustments due to adverse events will be allowed (i.e. decrease to 0.5 mg twice daily).

The target quit date for smoking cessation will be on the last day of the two weeks of daily tDCS which corresponds to the recommended quit date after starting varenicline treatment.

Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham tDCS consists of 30s of 2 mA at the beginning and at the end of the 6 session (ramp up and down), then receiving 0 mA stimulation for the middle 19 min. The tDCS device that will be used for this study is the Soterix 1x1 mini-CT.

Interventions

Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation. Active tDCS involves brief (e.g., 20-min) application of weak electric current (e.g., 2 mA) to the scalp. The tDCS device that will be used for this study is the Soterix 1x1 mini-CT.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Varenicline 1mg BID

Varenicline is the most effective approved treatment for quitting smoking. Varenicline as per standard prescribing for dose escalation (i.e. Days 1 to 3: 0.5 mg once daily; Days 4 to 7: 0.5 mg twice daily; Days 8 to end of treatment: 1 mg twice daily) will be given concurrently over the same 2 weeks as the tDCS protocol and continue for an additional 10 weeks as per standard treatment duration recommended on the product monograph for a total of 12 weeks of varenicline treatment. Dose adjustments due to adverse events will be allowed (i.e. decrease to 0.5 mg twice daily).

The target quit date for smoking cessation will be on the last day of the two weeks of daily tDCS which corresponds to the recommended quit date after starting varenicline treatment.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Sham tDCS consists of 30s of 2 mA at the beginning and at the end of the 6 session (ramp up and down), then receiving 0 mA stimulation for the middle 19 min. The tDCS device that will be used for this study is the Soterix 1x1 mini-CT.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

Champix; Chantix

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Be able to provide informed written consent
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures
• Age 18-85 years
• Smoke ≥ 8 cigarettes per day (CPD)
• Is seeking treatment for tobacco dependence
• Willing to attend the required clinic appointments (Two consecutive weeks, Monday through Friday)
• Otherwise healthy (i.e. not suffering from any major illness/condition that would impact their participation in the study)

Exclusion Criteria

• Use of smoking cessation medication (e.g. buproprion, varenicline, NRT, cytisine) in the past 3 months
• Current regular use of nicotine-containing products besides cigarettes (e.g. electronic cigarettes, etc.)
• Unstable psychiatric illness that would adversely impact study participation and compliance (determined by the QI)
• History of seizures/epilepsy
• Lifetime history of concussions or head traumas
• Current pregnancy or plans to become pregnant
• Current pacemakers or implanted electrical devices
• Current metal embedded in the skull
• Presence of skin lesions, open wounds, or bruising at stimulation sites; or
• Contraindications to varenicline use (e.g. pregnant/breastfeeding, alcohol dependence, kidney disease/renal impairment, known hypersensitivity to varenicline)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Laurie Zawertailo

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Laurie A Zawertailo, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Locations

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Canada

Central Contacts

Laurie A Zawertailo, PhD

Role: CONTACT

laurie.zawertailo@camh.ca

416-535-8501 ext. 77422

Kameron Iturralde, BSc

Role: CONTACT

kameron.iturralde@camh.ca

416-535-8501 ext. 77293

Facility Contacts

Laurie A Zawertailo, PhD

Role: primary

laurie.zawertailo@camh.ca

416-535-8501 ext. 77422

References

Zawertailo L, Zhang H, Rahmani N, Rajji TK, Selby P. Active versus sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunct to varenicline treatment for smoking cessation: Study protocol for a double-blind single dummy randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2022 Dec 8;17(12):e0277408. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277408. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36480510 (View on PubMed)

Zhang H, Rajji TK, Selby P, Melamed O, Attwells S, Zawertailo L. Augmenting varenicline treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) increases smoking abstinence rates at end of treatment. Brain Stimul. 2023 Jul-Aug;16(4):1083-1085. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.07.001. Epub 2023 Jul 3. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 37406928 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

508405

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

081-2024

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id