N-acetylcysteine for cessation of tobacco smoking: rationale and study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tobacco smoking is a highly prevalent, addictive behaviour and a key public health priority. However available cessation therapies have low quit and high relapse rates, indicating an urgent need for more effective treatments. Predicated on promising preclinical and pilot clinical data, this paper presents a rationale and protocol for the trial of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a novel anti-craving smoking cessation aid.

Methods

Current smokers (n = 120) of at least 10 cigarettes a day are recruited through online advertisements, print publications and dissemination of flyers. Participants are randomised on a 1:1 ratio to receive either 16-week treatment of 1.8 g/day of NAC or placebo with all participants receiving quit support from the online QuitCoach tool. Participa

SUBMITTER: Arancini L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6734392 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature