Can a pill and brain zaps help you quit smoking for good?
NCT ID NCT07145866
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether adding accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) to the standard smoking-cessation drug varenicline helps adults quit nicotine products like cigarettes and vapes. Thirty participants will take varenicline daily for 12 weeks and receive either real or sham aTMS over 5 consecutive days. Researchers will track abstinence through saliva tests and brain scans to see if the combination reduces cravings and improves quit rates.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- varenicline and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a more effective way to help people quit smoking or vaping by combining medication with brain stimulation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-phase trial with only 30 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The TMS is given over just 5 days, and the sham group may also improve, making it hard to see a clear benefit.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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