Treatment With Mecamylamine in Smoking and Non-smoking Alcohol Dependent Patients

RESEARCH PLAN: Although there are two FDA approved medications for the treatment of alcohol
dependence (naltrexone and disulfiram), the robust efficacy of both compounds in reducing
alcohol consumption has recently been called into question. Given the high rates of alcohol
dependence among the general population, development and testing of novel medications is of
great importance.

Mecamylamine, a noncompetitive NACh receptor antagonist has been shown to be useful in
smoking cessation when used in combination with transdermal nicotine. To our knowledge,
clinical studies examining the effectiveness of mecamylamine in alcoholism have not been
conducted. However, there is evidence from animal research that mecamylamine can block the
effects of alcohol. Infusion of mecamylamine into the ventral tegmental area antagonized
ethanol-induced dopamine release in rats. More importantly, mecamylamine decreased alcohol
intake and preference in alcohol-preferring rats. In two studies with healthy volunteers
mecamylamine was effective in attenuating the euphoric effects of alcohol and reducing the
craving for alcohol.

This is the first study designed to test the clinical efficacy of mecamylamine in a sample of
alcohol dependent patients who either do or do not smoke.

For the proposed project we will recruit 60 treatment seeking patients between the ages of 18
and 60 who meet criteria for alcohol dependence and may or may not smoke. Patients will be
randomized into two groups (30 patients in each group): one dose of mecamylamine (10mg) or
placebo in a double-blind fashion for 12 weeks. Patients will be asked to come for follow up
3 months after completing the study. Patients will be excluded if they: take medications
thought to influence drinking behavior, have a significant underlying medical conditions,
such as cerebral, renal, thyroid, hepatic or cardiac pathology; have a history of glaucoma,
prostatic hypertrophy, urethral obstruction, cerebral arteriosclerosis, pyloric stenosis, or
a history of hypersensitivity to mecamylamine; or meet current criteria for Bipolar
Disorders, Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia-type Disorders, Major Depression or Posttraumatic
Stress Disorders (PTSD). Females who are pregnant or lactating will also be excluded.

We hypothesize that mecamylamine will result in a greater reduction of alcohol consumption
than placebo among the alcohol dependent patients. We further hypothesize that mecamylamine
will be effective in reducing both alcohol consumption and smoking in a subgroup of
alcoholics who also smoke.

Inclusion Criteria:

- individuals with DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence

- smokers and non-smokers

- patients who do not require psychotropic medication for the management of their
psychiatric symptoms

- individuals with a history of substance dependence (other than alcohol and tobacco)
but have not met criteria for substance dependence in the past 30 days

- women with acceptable method of contraception

Exclusion Criteria:

- pregnant women

- medications thought to influence drinking behavior including: acamprosate, disulfiram,
naltrexone and ondansetron

- underlying medical conditions

- history of glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, urethral obstruction, cerebral
arteriosclerosis, pyloric stenosis, or a history of hypersensitivity to mecamylamine

- DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizophrenia-type disorders

- unstable medical conditions

- patients who require psychotropic medication for the management of an active
psychiatric disorder

- patients on pharmacological treatment for alcohol and/or nicotine dependence