Gabapentin for smoking cessation.
BACKGROUND
We conducted a preliminary proof-of-concept study evaluating gabapentin for the treatment of tobacco dependence.


METHODS
Subjects (N = 80) were randomized to gabapentin (600 mg three times per day or 900 mg three times per day) or placebo. After a 2-week dose titration, the target dose was maintained for 9 weeks and then tapered over 1 week. Follow-up was for 12 weeks after the medication phase.


RESULTS
The study had high dropout rates with more than one half of participants in each arm discontinuing study. Gabapentin-treated participants exhibited lower abstinence rates than placebo-treated participants; however, this difference was not significant. Smoking reduction was observed across all treatment arms compared with baseline (p < .01) but did not differ across treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although not definitive, our findings suggest that gabapentin administered at these doses with this dosing regimen holds little promise for the treatment of tobacco dependence in a population of smokers seeking treatment.
Sood
Amit
A
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Ebbert
Jon O
JO
Wyatt
Kirk D
KD
Croghan
Ivana T
IT
Schroeder
Darrell R
DR
Sood
Richa
R
Hays
J Taylor
JT
D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin