Varenicline does not increase serum BDNF levels in patients with nicotine dependence.

Abstract

Varenicline, alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist, is a new class of medications for treating nicotine dependence. As an alpha4beta2 nAChR partial agonist, varenicline serves to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms, while high-affinity binding of the agonist mitigates the reinforcing effects of smoking. In the present study, we compared serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels of nicotine dependence and nonsmokers, and we investigated changes in serum BDNF levels after 8 weeks of treatment with varenicline. Patients met the DSM-IV criteria for nicotine dependence. Both the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and the Tobacco Dependence Screener (TDS) were used. Serum BDNF levels and breath carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured before and 8 weeks after varenicline treatment. Fourteen of 16 subjects (87.5%) stopped smoking within 12 weeks of varenicline treatment. Thirteen healthy nonsmokers who never had previously smoked were randomly selected as a control group. Serum BDNF levels of patients before treatment (4.8 +/- 3.8 ng/ml) were significantly lower than those in the control group (12.4 +/- 6.13 ng/ml). Serum BDNF levels had not increased from baseline (4.8 +/- 3.8 ng/ml) to 8 weeks after varenicline treatment (3.0 +/- 1.1 ng/ml) of patients. These results suggest that smoking might decrease serum BDNF levels and that treatment with varenicline for 8 weeks, combined with 12 weeks of not smoking, does not increase serum BDNF levels in smokers.

• Authors: Wakako Umene-Nakano, Reiji Yoshimura, Chiharu Yoshii, Tsutomu Hoshuyama, Kenji Hayashi, Hikaru Hori, Asuka Katsuki, Atsuko Ikenouchi-Sugita, Jun Nakamura
• Journal: Human psychopharmacology (Hum Psychopharmacol) Vol. 25 Issue 3 Pg. 276-9 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1099-1077 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20373480 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Benzazepines
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Quinoxalines
• Varenicline

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Benzazepines (therapeutic use)
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Quinoxalines (therapeutic use)
• Smoking Cessation (methods, psychology)
• Tobacco Use Disorder (blood, drug therapy, psychology)
• Varenicline