Combined effects of venlafaxine, nicotine replacement, and brief counseling on smoking cessation

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005 Nov;13(4):282-92. doi: 10.1037/1064-1297.13.4.282.

Abstract

In this study, 147 smokers were randomly assigned to receive either venlafaxine or placebo in conjunction with behavioral counseling (9 weekly sessions) and transdermal nicotine replacement therapy (22 mg/day). Patients began medication 2 weeks before quitting and continued for 18 weeks after quitting, with the daily dose titrated from 150 to 225 mg. in response to symptoms of negative affect and relapse. The results showed no main effect of treatment on abstinence. Post hoc analysis revealed that both at the end of treatment and at the 1-year follow-up smokers consuming less than a pack of cigarettes a day benefited from the addition of venlafaxine to the treatment regimen. Venlafaxine also reduced negative affect for all smokers for up to 6 weeks postcessation. The findings suggest that venlafaxine could have some role to play in the treatment of lighter smokers, in addition to the expected benefits of nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral counseling.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / administration & dosage
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use
  • Counseling / methods*
  • Cyclohexanols / administration & dosage
  • Cyclohexanols / adverse effects
  • Cyclohexanols / therapeutic use*
  • Diarrhea / chemically induced
  • Dizziness / chemically induced
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Headache / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nausea / chemically induced
  • Nicotine / administration & dosage
  • Nicotine / adverse effects
  • Nicotine / therapeutic use*
  • Nicotinic Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Nicotinic Agonists / adverse effects
  • Nicotinic Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Patient Selection
  • Smoking / therapy
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Time Factors
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / diagnosis
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Cyclohexanols
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Nicotine
  • Venlafaxine Hydrochloride