Minocycline and Tobacco Craving in Smokers With Schizophrenia

Phase 4

Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia
Tobacco Use

Interventions: Other: Placebo
Drug: Minocycline

Registration Number: NCT02968602

Lead Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore

Brief Summary: Craving for cigarettes is an important aspect that leads to challenges with smoking cessation. Persons with schizophrenia are more likely to smoke and to be heavier smokers than persons without schizophrenia, and may experience craving differently as well. Minocycline is an antibiotic medication that may impact craving. We will conduct a two-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group pilot study to investigate the effects of minocycline vs. placebo on craving and smoking behaviors in smokers with schizophrenia. Participants will take minocycline or matching placebo for two weeks. Participants will be assessed on aspects of craving and smoking behavior at baseline and after 1 and 2 weeks of minocycline or placebo treatment.

Detailed Description: Nicotine dependence is high in schizophrenia; nearly three times more prevalent than the general population. In smokers with schizophrenia, the risk of all-cause mortality is doubled and cardiovascular mortality risk is twelvefold higher than nonsmokers. Many factors influence smoking in persons with schizophrenia, but predictors of craving and smoking behavior are not well established. Craving is a major contributor to smoking behaviors, and, importantly, is a predictor of relapse risk. Since craving may precede relapse, it can be advantageous as a screening tool for those attempting cessation. In addition, focusing on treatments aimed to reduce craving may lead to better therapeutic targets. Minocycline may affect craving, perhaps due to inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) formation, as NO acts as a second messenger for glutamate and dopamine receptors. NO also facilitates the effects of nicotine in the reward circuit, and blockade of NO has been demonstrated to eliminate nicotine abstinence symptoms in rats. A small study has demonstrated that minocycline reduces cigarette craving in human subjects without severe mental illness. The investigators will conduct a two-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group pilot study to investigate the effects of minocycline vs. placebo on craving and indicators of smoking intensity in smokers with schizophrenia. Participants will take minocycline up to 200 mg daily or matching placebo for two weeks. Participants will complete cigarette cue-elicited craving platforms and related assessments at baseline, and after 1 and 2 weeks of minocycline or placebo treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 32

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	Participants will take capsules that match active drug, but contain no active ingredients, twice daily for week 1, and then will take capsules that match active drug, but contain no active ingredients, twice daily for week 2.
Minocycline	Minocycline	Participants will take 50 mg minocycline capsules twice daily for 1 week, then take 100 mg capsules twice daily for 1 week.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Questionnaire for Smoking Urges-Brief	Baseline, Week 1, and Week 2	This is a 10-item assessment used to measure craving to smoke and used in studies of smokers with schizophrenia. This scale has a score range from 0-100The change in QSU-Brief craving scores between time points (baseline to week 1, and baseline to week 2) will be assessed. The change in scores between the two timepoints will be calculated. The higher the score the stronger the urge to smoke is.

Secondary Outcome Measures