Project QuitRx

A Prescription to Quit Smoking

Studies show that 21 percent of adults continue to smoke knowing that their habit may lead to cancer, and for some - certain death. Smoking is a serious addiction that researchers in MD Anderson’s Department of Behavioral Science are targeting. When an individual tries to stop smoking, their uncontrollable dependence on cigarettes may cause emotional, mental or physical reactions.

QuitRx is a research study funded by a federal research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that is designed to better understand how the brain responds when people experience the negative emotions (e.g., agitation, irritability, sadness) often associated with quitting.

The program offers a positive support system for study participants by offering medications coupled with a structured program, personal screenings and one-on-one counseling. The positive support and ongoing counseling increases the smokers’ chances of initial success, and success with staying smoke-free.

QuitRx is looking for smokers who are serious about quitting and want help doing so.

Study participants must:

• Be 18-65 years old
• Smoke more than five cigarettes per day within the two months preceding the screening visit
• Be able to follow verbal and written instructions in English and complete all aspects of the study
• Provide informed consent and agree to all assessments and study procedures
• Have a current address and home telephone number
• Be the only participant in their household

What’s involved in participating?

• A screening to determine if you are eligible for the QuitRx Program
• Attending 7 clinic visits in the first 10 weeks of study
  • 4 of the 7 visits will each last 3 to 4 hours
  • 3 of the 7 visits will each last 1.5 - 2 hours
• Attending 2 follow-up visits (each last 1.5 - 2 hours)
• Participating in 5 supportive phone calls

What are the benefits of participating?

• Treatment to help you quit smoking
• Treatment to educate you more about health effects of smoking
• Compensation for completing study visits

Hear from QuitRx participants

Tom Fitchett - Project QuitRx Participant (2:18)

Christie Mendolia - Project QuitRx Participant (1:30)

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information or to be screened for participation, call MD Anderson, 713-792-2265.

Is this confidential?

Yes. All information you provide will be completely confidential. Only people who are part of the study team or who are responsible for regulating the proper conduct of the study will have access to your information.  Anybody else will have to get your specific, written permission.

How long does the study last?

  It takes about eight months to complete the entire study.  This includes all screening visits, counseling and treatment visits, phone calls, and follow up visits.

What are the medications? And how long is treatment?

You will receive Varenicline, Bupropion, or a placebo (a sugar pill) for twelve weeks.

How do I know what treatment I will receive?

Treatment group assignment is done randomly (similar to flipping a coin) so we can’t guarantee which treatment you will receive. We do know that two out of every three people will receive an active medication.  Regardless of group assignment, everybody will receive counseling, which has been shown to help people stop smoking even if they don’t take medications.  Also, QuitRx is a “blind study.”  This means that neither you nor the majority of people providing your smoking cessation care will know which medication you are taking.  The study physician will always know which medication you are taking and can tell your personal physician in case of an emergency.  Otherwise, you won’t know which medication you were on until after the study is over.

Will you do any physical tests on me like drawing blood?

• We draw blood to test kidney and liver function.. 
• We perform a brief medical physical examination to get an idea of your general health.
• We will routinely take your blood pressure and get breath samples by having you breathe into a machine.
• Women of childbearing age are asked to do a urine pregnancy test at the beginning of the study.

Whom do I contact?

For more information or to be screened for participation, call Project QuitRx, 713-792-2265.