ArticleNeuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology2016
Varenicline-Induced Elevation of Dopamine in Smokers: A Preliminary [(11)C]-(+)-PHNO PET Study.
Article in Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01632189 (Investigating the Effects of Varenicline on D2/3 Receptor Binding in Brain of Tobacco-smokers), which is not on this map. Cited by 12 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Investigating the Effects of Varenicline on D2/3 Receptor Binding in Brain of Tobacco-smokers: a PET/[11C](+)PHNO Study
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Genetic Prediction of Smoking Cessation Medication Side Effects: A Genome-Wide Investigation of Abnormal Dreams on Varenicline.Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 2024Trial
- The Relationship of Varenicline Agonism of α4β2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Nicotine-Induced Dopamine Release in Nicotine-Dependent Humans.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2020Trial
- Proposed mechanisms of neuroprotection for nicotine in Parkinson's disease.Journal of Parkinson's disease · 2025Review
- Varenicline Attenuates Memory Impairment in Amyloid-Beta-Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease.Neurochemical research · 2025Article
- Personalized and adaptive interventions for smoking cessation: Emerging trends and determinants of efficacy.iScience · 2024Review
- Specificity of Varenicline in Blocking Mesolimbic Circuit Activation to Natural and Drug Rewards.Neuroscience · 2022Article
- Exploring regulation and function of dopamine D3 receptors in alcohol use disorder. A PET [Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2021Article
- Possible varenicline withdrawal-induced akathisia: A case report.The mental health clinician · 2019Article
- Impact of Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy on Executive Function: A Narrative Review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2019Review
- ADHD symptoms impact smoking outcomes and withdrawal in response to Varenicline treatment for smoking cessation.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2017Article
- Exploring the relationship between social attachment and dopamine DSocial neuroscience · 2017Article
- Cigarette Use and Striatal Dopamine D2/3 Receptors: Possible Role in the Link between Smoking and Nicotine Dependence.The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Varenicline, a nicotinic partial agonist, is the most effective treatment for tobacco use disorder. However, its mechanism of action is still unclear and may involve stimulating dopaminergic transmission. Here we used PET imaging with [(11)C]-(+)-PHNO to explore for the first time the impact of varenicline on dopamine transmission in the D2-rich striatum and D3-rich extra-striatal regions and its relationship with craving, withdrawal and smoking. Eleven treatment-seeking smokers underwent two PET scans with [(11)C]-(+)-PHNO, each following 12-h overnight smoking abstinence both prior to receiving varenicline and following 10-11 days of varenicline treatment (ie, at steady-state drug levels). Subjective measures of craving and urges to smoke were also assessed on the days of the PET scans. Varenicline treatment significantly reduced [(11)C]-(+)-PHNO binding in the dorsal caudate (p=0.008) and reduced some craving measures. These findings provide the first evidence that varenicline is able to increase DA levels in the human brain, a factor that may contribute to its therapeutic efficacy.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.