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Behavioral Intervention

Quitting Strategies + Varenicline for Smoking Cessation

Phase 1
Recruiting
Led By Lisa Fucito, PhD
Research Sponsored by Yale University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up week 12
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial compares two ways to quit cigarettes and e-cigarettes: quitting both at the same time or quitting cigarettes first. Participants will get varenicline, counseling, and resources to help them quit.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults who have been smoking cigarettes and using e-cigarettes for at least 3 months, smoke 5+ cigarettes daily, use e-cigarettes on most days, and are ready to quit both within a month. It's not for pregnant or breastfeeding women, those unable to consent, people with severe kidney issues or unstable heart conditions, or users of other tobacco products more than once a week.
What is being tested?
The study tests if quitting cigarettes and e-cigarettes together (QUIT-C) works better than stopping them one after the other. Participants will all receive Varenicline—a medication that reduces cravings and enjoyment from tobacco—alongside counseling and self-help resources.
What are the potential side effects?
Varenicline may cause nausea, sleep problems (insomnia), constipation, gas, vomiting. It can also lead to mood swings or depression in some cases. Counseling and self-help booklets do not have physical side effects.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~week 12
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and week 12 for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Cigarette Abstinence at Week 12- Carbon Monoxide
Secondary study objectives
Biomarkers of tobacco-related harm exposure
E-Cigarette Abstinence at Week 12- Cotinine
Number of cigarettes smoked per day
+1 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: QUIT-S (Sequential)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Treatment in this arm will focus on cessation of cigarettes followed sequentially by cessation of e-cigarettes. All participants will receive 12-weeks of varenicline, weekly individual counseling, and access to cessation resources including a guided self-change booklet and links to free text-based support. Counseling and cessation resources will emphasize sequential cessation.
Group II: QUIT-C (Concurrent)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Treatment in this arm will emphasize concurrent cessation of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. All participants will receive 12-weeks of varenicline, weekly individual counseling, and access to cessation resources including a guided self-change booklet and links to free text-based support. Counseling and cessation resources will emphasize concurrent cessation.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Counseling
2017
Completed Phase 4
~1830
Varenicline
2011
Completed Phase 4
~4170

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Yale UniversityLead Sponsor
1,930 Previous Clinical Trials
3,033,434 Total Patients Enrolled
National Cancer Institute (NCI)NIH
13,957 Previous Clinical Trials
41,112,040 Total Patients Enrolled
Lisa Fucito, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorYale University
5 Previous Clinical Trials
475 Total Patients Enrolled
~14 spots leftby Jun 2025