Effect of Metformin on Cigarette Withdrawal Syndrome and Abstinence in Lung Cancer Patients; A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial
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Date
2021-05-31
0000-0002-2230-465X Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Brieflands
Abstract
Background: Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. One of the predisposing factors for LC is smoking. Metformin is the first line for diabetes treatment and is shown that it can be used for nicotine withdrawal syndrome reduction. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of metformin on reducing the nicotine withdrawal syndrome and increasing nicotine abstinence in patients with LC. Methods: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial from February 2018 to May 2019, 53 patients with LC were selected by respondent-driven sampling (RDS), and were assigned into two experimental and wait-list control (WLC) group through block randomization (BR). After 3 weeks of baseline assessment, metformin or placebo was prescribed in the form of escalating doses. Cigarette Withdrawal Scale (CWS-21), urinary cotinine levels, and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) levels were evaluated in 16 steps by the repeated measures. The primary outcomes include metformin efficacy on cigarette withdrawal syndrome and secondary outcomes include urinary cotinine levels and eCO level. The data were analyzed by generalized estimation equation (GEE), chi-square, and Atlas-Ti5. Results: The primary outcomes showed that the metformin group had significant effects on the improvement of depression, anxiety, craving, irritability, and appetite, difficulty in concentrating, appetite-weight, and insomnia during the 12-weeks treatment period (all P's < 0.05). In addition, only cravings scores remained constant until the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05). Secondary outcomes demonstrated that urinary cotinine levels and eCO level significantly decreased in the metformin group (all P's < 0.05). However, this decrease did not remain constant at both levels until the 6-month follow-up (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Metformin had a clinical potential for reducing nicotine withdrawal. However, more studies are needed.