Abstract
Varenicline is an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist. In this study,
we assessed the effects of varenicline on heart rate variability (HRV). Thirty subjects
were included in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
Varenicline or placebo was administered in two different testing sessions. Time domain
parameters and power spectral analysis of HRV were assessed in the supine position
and during handgrip exercise before and after the participants were given placebo
or varenicline. Fifteen healthy non-smokers (NS) and fifteen healthy smokers (S) were
included in the study. There were no statistically significant differences among any
of the time domain parameters obtained before and after placebo administration or
between the S and NS groups with respect to varenicline administration. In frequency
domain analyses, normalized HF (high-frequency) powers were significantly higher in
the S group than in the NS group (before placebo, NS:6.57±3.58 vs. S:13.85±7.50, p=0.002, after placebo, NS:6.33±3.89 vs. S:10.82±4.88, p=0.007). After varenicline administration, the normalized HF power was significantly
higher (NS:6.65±4.34 vs. S:11.06±4.52, p=0.01), and the ratio of LF (low-frequency) to HF was significantly lower (NS:8.44±5.89 vs. S:4.97±4.60, p=0.02) in the S group than in the NS group. Administration of a single dose of varenicline
significantly increased the LF/HF ratio (5.83±2.69 vs. 8.44±5.89) in the NS group, but in the S group, there were no significant differences related
to any of the time or frequency domain parameters. We concluded that a single dose
of varenicline does not affect HRV in healthy smokers but that it may alter HRV when
administered at a therapeutic dose to healthy non-smokers during mild sympathetic
stimulation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 13, 2011
Accepted:
May 19,
2011
Received in revised form:
May 7,
2011
Received:
January 2,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
