title: Results of an initial clinical trial of varenicline for the treatment of cocaine dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cocaine use, abuse and dependence remains a pressing public health problem. Based on its mechanism of action, varenicline, an alpha4beta2 partial agonist seemed to be a likely candidate for treating cocaine dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cocaine dependent participants (n=37) were enrolled in a 9-week double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial. Varenicline was titrated up to a target dose of 1mg BID during the first week of medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Varenicline was associated with lower odds of cocaine use than placebo (OR=2.02, p=0.08), as measured by thrice-weekly urinalysis results. Compared to placebo-treated participants, varenicline treated participants had significantly decreased rates of cocaine reward, as measured by the Multiple Choice Procedure (MCP) (p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varenicline appears to decrease cocaine use and reward, suggesting that further investigation of varenicline may be warranted.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, Treatment Research Center, 3900 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States. plebani j@mail.trc.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Pettinati
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Kyle M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kampman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068580:Varenicline