Combination Treatment With Varenicline and Nicotine Patch on Smoking Cessation Outcomes in Heavy Drinkers at 26-Week Follow-up

May 16, 2024Journal of clinical psychopharmacology

Varenicline and Nicotine Patch Together May Help Heavy Drinkers Quit Smoking After 26 Weeks

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Abstract

At week 26, smoking quit rates were 25% for those receiving varenicline and 26% for those receiving placebo.

Smoking cessation rates did not significantly differ between the varenicline and placebo groups at the 26-week follow-up.
A notable decline in quit rates was observed in the varenicline group from week 12 to week 26.
Reductions in alcohol consumption observed from baseline to week 12 were maintained at week 26 across the entire sample.
No significant differences in alcohol consumption were noted between the treatment groups at the 26-week follow-up.

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PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: People who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol heavily are less likely to quit smoking compared with those who do not drink heavily. The current study examined the effects of a 12-week treatment phase of combination varenicline and nicotine patch compared with placebo and nicotine patch on smoking cessation (primary outcome) and alcohol consumption (secondary outcome) in heavy drinking smokers at 26-week follow-up.

METHODS/PROCEDURES: Participants were daily smokers who met heavy drinking criteria. They were randomly assigned to receive either varenicline and nicotine patch (n = 61) or placebo and nicotine patch (n = 61) for 12 weeks. At week 26, self-reports of point prevalence cigarette abstinence were biochemically confirmed, and past-month alcohol drinking days and heavy drinking days were assessed.

FINDINGS/RESULTS: At week 26, smoking quit rates did not differ by treatment group (25% varenicline and 26% placebo). Relative to week 12 outcomes, week 26 quit rates significantly dropped off in the varenicline group but not in the placebo group. Alcohol drinking reductions for the whole sample that were previously observed from baseline to week 12 were sustained at week 26, although they did not differ between treatment groups.

IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: In heavy drinking smokers, smoking cessation success was evident in a quarter of the total sample at 3 months postmedication discontinuation. At this time, quit rates were the same between those who received varenicline and nicotine patch and those who received nicotine patch alone. Future research is warranted to examine what may aid in longer-term smoking quit rates in heavy drinking smokers.

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Combination Treatment With Varenicline and Nicotine Patch on Smoking Cessation Outcomes in Heavy Drinkers at 26-Week Follow-up

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