Varenicline for Gait and Balance Impairment in Parkinson Disease (Chantix-PD)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects will be diagnosed with Parkinson Disease (PD) by the UK Brain Bank criteria.
• Subjects will have to be at least stage 2 on the Hoehn and Yahr staging system of PD and have a history of at least 1 fall or near fall in the last 6 months
• Subjects must have a stable medication regimen.
• All subjects will be over the age of 40 in an attempt to exclude inherited forms of parkinsonism.
• Serum creatine kinase, complete metabolic panel, complete blood count, liver function tests, renal function tests, platelets and EKG are within normal limits (results obtained from primary care physician and dated within the past 6 months or obtained at screening visit).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hoehn and Yahr stage V subjects.
• Subjects with a history of major psychiatric disorder, deep brain stimulation surgery, recent cerebral trauma, cardiac arrhythmia, or renal insufficiency.
• A cardiovascular procedure in the last 5 years (eg, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) or have cardiovascular instability (including myocardial infarction or unstable angina). Other cardiovascular exclusions include uncontrolled hypertension, significant neurological sequelae of cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease with prior amputation, or severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV).
• Concurrent treatment with any MAOIs, bupropion (Wellbutrin), or nicotine patches.
• Dementia or other psychiatric illness that prevents the patient from giving informed consent (Folstein Mini Mental Status Exam score less than 25).
• Concurrent treatment with trihexyphenidyl (Artane) or benztropine mesylate (Cogentin).
• Significant degree of dysphagia, by history.
• Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity.
• Presence of severe renal disease (BUN 50% greater than normal or creatinine clearance <60 mL/min) or hepatic disease.
• Abnormal creatine kinase and/or platelet count in the past 6 months (as determined by lab reports obtained from primary care physicians or conducted at baseline).
• Use of varenicline within the previous 30 days.
• Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant at the time of screening or who will not use adequate protection during participation of the study.
• Allergy/sensitivity to the drug or its formulations.
• Concurrent participation in another clinical study.
• Active substance or tobacco use or dependence.
• Moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Serious illness (requiring systemic treatment/or hospitalization) until the subject either completes therapy or is clinically stable on therapy, in the opinion of the site investigator, for at least 60 days prior to study entry.
• Inability or unwillingness of the subject or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.