Therapeutic Effect of Varenicline on Depression Among Cigarette Smokers with Methadone Maintenance Therapy

Volume 3 - Issue 5

Mohammad Talebpoor¹, Ghasem dastgerdi¹*, Reza Bidaki^1,2 and Mahmood Vakili³

Received: February 20, 2020;   Published: March 06, 2020

DOI: 10.32474/SJPBS.2020.03.000171

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Abstract

Introduction: Varenicline is an effective drug approved for smoking cessation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Varenicline on depression in smokers treated with methadone.

Methods: The present study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial that was performed on 60 smokers aged 18-60 years old who were referred to addiction treatment clinics who had a primary diagnosis of major depression based on the DSM-5 criteria. Both groups were treated with Citalopram tablets 20 mg daily for the treatment of depression. For the group of varenicline for 6 weeks, the first three days 0.5mg, followed by 1mg daily and the control group was given the same placebo. Both groups were evaluated using BDI-II by a psychiatrist before the intervention, 3 and 6 weeks after treatment.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of the depression scores in the Varenicline group and the control after intervention were 19.74±6.36 and 21.39±6.4 respectively, and the estimated effect size was 0.259, that according to the Cohen table was lower than the mean. There was no significant difference between the mean depressions scores in the Varenicline group before intervention 29.85 and in the control group were 30.32. At 3 and 6 weeks after treatment, the depression score in the Varenicline group was lower than that of the other drug effects; however, this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Varenicline is a relatively effective drug for smokers with depression who are treated with methadone.

Keywords: Depression; Methadone; Varenicline; Nicotine; Smoking cessation

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