2017
Effects of varenicline on alcohol self-administration and craving in drinkers with depressive symptoms
Roberts W, Verplaetse TL, Moore K, Oberleitner L, Picciotto MR, McKee SA. Effects of varenicline on alcohol self-administration and craving in drinkers with depressive symptoms. Journal Of Psychopharmacology 2017, 31: 906-914. PMID: 28351203, PMCID: PMC5823265, DOI: 10.1177/0269881117699618.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDepressive symptomsAlcohol cravingAlcohol useEffects of vareniclineRole of nAChRsHuman laboratory studiesDSM-IV criteriaSymptoms of depressionAlcohol use disorderLaboratory testing sessionsMore depressive symptomsMedication pretreatmentPlasma levelsPriming doseVareniclineUse disordersTreatment moderatorsAlcohol consumptionDepression symptomsHeavy drinkersAlcohol usersDrinking taskSymptomsLess drinkingDrinkers
2010
The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist Varenicline Increases the Ataxic and Sedative‐Hypnotic Effects of Acute Ethanol Administration in C57BL/6J Mice
Kamens HM, Andersen J, Picciotto MR. The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist Varenicline Increases the Ataxic and Sedative‐Hypnotic Effects of Acute Ethanol Administration in C57BL/6J Mice. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2010, 34: 2053-2060. PMID: 20946306, PMCID: PMC2988947, DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01301.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSedative-hypnotic effectsBaseline locomotor activityFixed-speed rotarodAlcohol abuseEthanol consumptionNicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist vareniclineLocomotor activityEthanol-induced motor incoordinationAbility of vareniclineAcute ethanol injectionDuration of LORRLocomotor activity chambersEffects of vareniclineAcute ethanol administrationNew pharmacologic strategiesDowel testDuration of lossPartial agonist vareniclineEthanol-induced ataxiaBalance beamNicotinic modulationPharmacologic strategiesMotor incoordinationEthanol administrationSedative effectsModulation of ethanol consumption by genetic and pharmacological manipulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mice
Kamens HM, Andersen J, Picciotto MR. Modulation of ethanol consumption by genetic and pharmacological manipulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mice. Psychopharmacology 2010, 208: 613-626. PMID: 20072781, PMCID: PMC2901400, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-009-1759-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffects of vareniclineEthanol consumptionNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsEthanol intakeAcetylcholine receptorsPharmacological manipulationΒ2 subunitRole of nAChRsTwo-bottle choice paradigmWild-type micePartial agonist vareniclineSubunit knockout miceMesolimbic dopamine systemNicotinic controlVarenicline doseAlcohol drinkingAgonist vareniclineKnockout miceDopamine systemNicotine responseChallenge studiesVareniclineNAChRsReceptor subunitsMice
2009
Varenicline Reduces Alcohol Self-Administration in Heavy-Drinking Smokers
McKee SA, Harrison EL, O'Malley SS, Krishnan-Sarin S, Shi J, Tetrault JM, Picciotto MR, Petrakis IL, Estevez N, Balchunas E. Varenicline Reduces Alcohol Self-Administration in Heavy-Drinking Smokers. Biological Psychiatry 2009, 66: 185-190. PMID: 19249750, PMCID: PMC2863311, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.01.029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeavy drinking smokersSelf-administration periodAlcohol consumptionPartial nicotinic agonistPlacebo-controlled investigationEffects of vareniclineReduced ethanol intakeAlcohol Self-AdministrationAlcohol use disorderNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsMedication pretreatmentAdverse eventsNumber of drinksPreclinical evidenceAdditional drinkEthanol intakeTobacco dependenceDaily smokersPriming doseVareniclineComorbid disordersNicotinic agonistsUse disordersPriming drinkPotential treatment