The purpose of this research is to assess the effectiveness of two treatment strategies for smoking cessation in patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis who smoke cigarettes. All participants will receive varenicline, a commonly used medication that helps people stop smoking, at its standard dose. For those who are unable to stop smoking after 6 weeks of treatment, they will be randomly selected to either 1) increase their dose of varenicline, 2) combine varenicline with bupropion (another medication that helps with smoking cessation) or continue on the standard dose of varenicline. At the end of 12 weeks of treatment, participants will be asked if they have stopped smoking with confirmation done by measuring carbon monoxide levels in their breath.
Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
Male or female, aged 18 or older
amylase or lipase values, or both, that are greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal values
Age < 18 years
Ongoing acute pancreatitis or prior episode of pancreatitis in previous 30 days
No desire to quit smoking
Currently undergoing smoking cessation intervention (i.e. nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, counseling, bupropion).