Study on smoking withdrawal for people with ADHD

[Vocalek]

Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms Are More Severe Among Smokers With ADHD and Independent of ADHD Symptom Change: Results From a 12-Day Contingency-Managed Abstinence Trial

Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms Are More Severe Among Smokers With ADHD and Independent of ADHD Symptom Change: Results From a 12-Day Contingency-Managed Abstinence Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Smokers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have greater difficulty quitting than those without ADHD, but preliminary data (McClernon, Kollins, Lutz, Fitzgerald, Murray, Redman, et al., 2008) suggest equivalent severity of withdrawal symptoms following brief abstinence. The objective of this study was to characterize the differential effects of intermediate term smoking abstinence on self-reported withdrawal and ADHD symptoms in adult smokers with and without ADHD.

Methods: Forty adult (50% female), nontreatment seeking moderate-to-heavy smokers with and without ADHD were enrolled in a 12-day quit study in which monetary incentives were provided for maintaining biologically verified abstinence. Self-reported withdrawal, mood, and ADHD symptoms were measured pre- and post-quitting.

Results: ADHD and controls did not vary on smoking or demographic variables. Significant Group × Session interactions were observed across a broad range of withdrawal symptoms and were generally characterized by greater withdrawal severity among ADHD smokers, particularly during the first 5 days of abstinence. In addition, Group × Sex × Session interactions were observed for craving, somatic symptoms, negative affect, and habit withdrawal; these interactions were driven by greater withdrawal severity among females with ADHD. Group × Session interactions were not observed for ADHD symptom scales.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that smokers with ADHD, and ADHD females in particular, experience greater withdrawal severity during early abstinence—independent of effects on ADHD symptoms. Whereas additional research is needed to pinpoint mechanisms, our findings suggest that smoking cessation interventions targeted at smokers with ADHD should address their more severe withdrawal symptoms following quitting.

Or maybe avoid those symptoms altogether and stay functional by switching to a smoke-free alternative....

 

[Hondo69]

"Group × Sex × Session interactions were observed"

Where is this clinic located and do they allow volunteer observers to attend?

On the serious side, we've been going through some interesting experiments with our teenage son who might have ADHD (they're still not sure). More than one doctor has mentioned that smoking both pot and cigarettes are very common as a form of self medication. If true, it would follow then that withdrawing from either could be pretty darn tramatic for them.

 

[Vocalek]

Take a look at Targacept's propduct pipeline: Targacept: Biopharmaceutical Company - Product Pipeline

Targacept: Biopharmaceutical Company - AZD3480 - ADHD

Looks as if there are no studies currently recruiting subjects: Search of: azd3480 - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov


And isn't it fascinating the at they are using the same drug to treat ADHD as Alzheimers? I always thought there might be a relationship between the two.

I am going to go read these abstracts now.

Home - PubMed - NCBI Search on AZD3480

Well, this one did not pan out. Did not meet proof of concept: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21258153
But the interesting thing is that the "active comparitor", donepezil, (Brand name=Aricept) didn't work any better than placebo either.

This one showed a beneficial effect on cognition in older subjects with age-associated memory impairment (that would be me, plus my husbad): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20542923

I'd need someone with better skills at reading medicaleze to interpret these results for me: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19555668

One sentence in this abstract caught my attention: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17329297
These early results demonstrate ispronicline was well tolerated and did not display the side effects typical of nicotine. Ispronicline also had a beneficial effect on cognition in subjects with AAMI. What side effects would those be?

 

[Stubby]

On the right of the same page is a link to this

A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of Varenicline for the Treatment of Smokeless Tobacco Users in Midwestern United States

Introduction: Long-term smokeless tobacco (ST) use is known to increase the risk for oropharyngeal cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Varenicline has recently been demonstrated to increase ST abstinence rates among Swedish snus users. We have conducted a pilot study to obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy of varenicline for the treatment of ST users in Midwestern United States.

Conclusions: Varenicline decreases craving and may be effective for increasing tobacco abstinence rates among ST users. Larger trials may be warranted to confirm these results.

In case some folks don't know Varenicline is chantix. Soooo....... where is the funding coming from for these studies.

 

[Vocalek]

On the right of the same page is a link to this

A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of Varenicline for the Treatment of Smokeless Tobacco Users in Midwestern United States

In case some folks don't know Varenicline is chantix. Soooo....... where is the funding coming from for these studies.

Uh...just a wild guess....Pfizer?

 

[rothenbj]

Okay, let's get this right. We have E cigs that work pretty good for a lot of smokers and get them to quit. Then there is a subset in the smoking community that nicquid just doesn't quit work. Something's missing and you don't get that inner calm. You find snus which contains those other minor alkaloids that give you the MAOI effect.

Now MAOI's combat depression and your physiology is satisfied. You feel right with the world, but wait! BP wants to cure us with a product that is successful except sometimes it tends to have some major negatives in terms of morbidity and mortality for some users, those with depression. GO FIGURE!