Smoking Cessation With Varenicline in Schizophrenia: Antipsychotic-Induced Neurological Symptoms as Correlates

Official title

Effect of Varenicline on Smoking Cessation in Patients With Schizophrenia: Evaluation of Antipsychotic Drug-Induced Neurological Symptoms as Correlates of Response

Overview

To test the feasibility of studying effects of smoking cessation with varenicline on antipsychotic drug-induced neurological side effects, we propose a 12 week pilot study of smoking cessation treatment with varenicline in 10 schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients who are actively smoking and have pre-existing TD while receiving stable doses of antipsychotics. Subjects will be followed after a 2 week baseline period to assess changes in smoking status and neurological symptoms using standardized rating scales. The aim is to examine clinically significant effects on antipsychotic-induced neurological side effects that may warrant further investigation.

Detailed description

1. Objectives(s): To study whether smoking cessation with varenicline treatment will be associated with a significant reduction in symptoms of antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia without worsening acute extrapyramidal symptoms. 2. Research Design: To test the feasibility of studying effects of smoking cessation with varenicline on antipsychotic drug-induced neurological side effects, we propose a 12 week exploratory, open-label, proof-of-concept, pilot study of smoking cessation treatment with varenicline in 10 schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients who are actively smoking and have pre-existing TD while receiving stable doses of antipsychotics. Subjects will be followed after a 2 week baseline period to assess changes in smoking status and neurological symptoms using standardized rating scales. The aim is to examine clinically significant effects on antipsychotic-induced neurological side effects that may warrant further investigation. 3. Methodology: Patients will be evaluated at a Screening Visit 1 (Week 0) and at a Baseline Visit 2 (Week 2) two weeks apart. After the Baseline Visit, subjects will be asked to cease smoking completely by the target date four weeks after the baseline visit (Week 6) and will attend a clinic Cessation Visit 4 (Week 6) for medication check and resupply. Treatment with varenicline will start at Baseline Visit 2 (Week 2) with 0.5mg hs x 3 days, 0.5mg bid x 4 days, then start 1mg bid at Visit 3 (Week 3) for the remaining 9 weeks of the study.

At the Screening and Baseline Visits, and at study visits thereafter (Visit 3-7), subjects will be evaluated for efficacy and safety, and changes in smoking or other tobacco use since the last visit. The following measures will be taken; Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD) at screening only; Cigarette smoking will be assessed by a structured questionnaire of time-line follow-back (TLFB) usage; Expired carbon using a hand-held carbon monoxide monitor; Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS), Barnes Akathisia Scale (BAS), and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS); Global Clinical Impression Scale (CGI-S at baseline, CGI-I at final visit) for TD; C-SSRS; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and the final visit only; Brief smoking cessation counseling; Laboratory measures; Urine toxicology sample at the screening and final visits only, serum pregnancy test (women) at screening visit only; Changes in psychotropic medications; Varenicline compliance by pill counts; Adverse events.

Interventions

• Drug Varenicline
  Oral medication approved to facilitate smoking cessation

Primary outcome measures

• Self-reported 7-day point prevalence of abstinence prior to week 12 [Time frame: 12 weeks]

Secondary outcome measures (3)

• A reduction in smoking was determined by a >50% reduction in mean number of cigarettes consumption per day at week 12 compared to baseline [Time frame: 12 weeks]
• Abstinence determined by a CO measure cutoff of ≤ 5 ppm [Time frame: 12 weeks]
• Abstinence determined by 24-hour point prevalence at week 12 [Time frame: 12 weeks]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• DSM 5 criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and stable disease
• Glazer-Morgenstern-Doucette criteria for TD
• Smoking at least 5 cigarettes on average daily for at least 30 days prior to screening
• An exhaled carbon monoxide concentration greater than 5 parts per million (ppm) at screening
• Agree to stop smoking by the target date (four weeks after baseline
• Concurrence for varenicline treatment from the patient's mental health provider if the patient is under mental health care; OR, if the patient is not under mental health care, the prescribing clinician should consult with a mental health provider to evaluate the patient for appropriateness to receive varenicline

Exclusion criteria

• Have untreated or unstable acute medical or psychiatric illnesses
• Have a history of seizures
• History of somnambulism
• Have chronic degenerative neurological illnesses (e.g., Parkinson's disease)
• Have a history of active substance abuse (including marijuana abuse) in the 3 months prior to screening or a positive toxicology screen
• Are receiving clozapine or cholinesterase inhibitors
• Had a change in dosing or medication type of antipsychotic or anti-muscarinic for one month prior to enrollment (two months for long-acting antipsychotics)
• Are unable to remain on a stable dose of antipsychotic or anti-muscarinic during the study period
• Have acute suicidal ideation, intent or behavior within 12 months or risk based assessed on the C-SSRS or depression/anxiety score ≥ 8 on the HADS.
• Female subjects of childbearing age will have a negative pregnancy serum test at screening and are required to use approved methods of birth control
• Use of an investigational drug within 30 days of screening
• Use of other smoking cessation aids (bupropion, nicotine replacement products)
• Use of other tobacco products
• History of allergic reactions to varenicline
• Lack capacity to provide informed consent

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• Corporal Michael J Crescenz VA Medical Center — Philadelphia

Publications

• Caroff SN, Campbell EC, Carroll B. Pharmacological treatment of tardive dyskinesia: recent developments. Expert Rev Neurother. 2017 Sep;17(9):871-881. doi: 10.1080/14737175.2017.1358616. Epub 2017 Jul 31. PMID 28727483
• Caroff SN, Campbell EC. Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Syndromes: Implications for Contemporary Practice. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2016 Sep;39(3):391-411. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2016.04.003. Epub 2016 Jun 23. PMID 27514296
• Caroff SN, Davis VG, Miller DD, Davis SM, Rosenheck RA, McEvoy JP, Campbell EC, Saltz BL, Riggio S, Chakos MH, Swartz MS, Keefe RS, Stroup TS, Lieberman JA; CATIE Investigators. Treatment outcomes of patients with tardive dyskinesia and chronic schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Mar;72(3):295-303. doi: 10.4088/JCP.09m05793yel. Epub 2010 Aug 10. PMID 20816031
• Caroff SN, Walker P, Campbell C, Lorry A, Petro C, Lynch K, Gallop R. Treatment of tardive dyskinesia with galantamine: a randomized controlled crossover trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Mar;68(3):410-5. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v68n0309. PMID 17388711
• Caroff SN, Martine R, Kleiner-Fisman G, Eisa M, Lorry A, Gallop R, Stern MB, Duda JE. Treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias with donepezil. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2006 May;12(4):261-3. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2005.10.003. Epub 2005 Dec 20. No abstract available. PMID 16364675
• Bordia T, Zhang D, Perez XA, Quik M. Striatal cholinergic interneurons and D2 receptor-expressing GABAergic medium spiny neurons regulate tardive dyskinesia. Exp Neurol. 2016 Dec;286:32-39. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.09.009. Epub 2016 Sep 19. PMID 27658674
• Quik M, Bordia T, Zhang D, Perez XA. Nicotine and Nicotinic Receptor Drugs: Potential for Parkinson's Disease and Drug-Induced Movement Disorders. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2015;124:247-71. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.07.005. Epub 2015 Aug 18. PMID 26472532

Identifiers

NCT: NCT03495024 · 01730

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗