Varenicline: Difference between revisions

Varenicline
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Revision as of 20:56, 9 February 2025

Medication used to treat nicotine addiction

Varenicline is a medication used to treat nicotine addiction. It is marketed under the brand name Chantix in the United States and Champix in other countries. Varenicline is a prescription medication that helps people stop smoking by reducing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Mechanism of action

Varenicline is a partial agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype _4_2. This receptor is believed to play a key role in the addictive properties of nicotine. By partially stimulating these receptors, varenicline reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Additionally, it blocks nicotine from binding to these receptors, thereby reducing the rewarding effects of smoking.

Medical uses

Varenicline is primarily used as an aid to smoking cessation. It is typically prescribed as part of a comprehensive program that includes counseling and support. The standard course of treatment lasts for 12 weeks, but it may be extended for an additional 12 weeks to increase the likelihood of long-term abstinence.

Side effects

Common side effects of varenicline include nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping, and abnormal dreams. Some users may experience mood changes, depression, or suicidal thoughts. It is important for patients to be monitored for any changes in mood or behavior while taking this medication.

History

Varenicline was developed by Pfizer and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006. It has since become a widely used treatment for smoking cessation, although its use has been subject to some controversy due to reports of psychiatric side effects.

Research

Ongoing research is examining the effectiveness of varenicline in combination with other smoking cessation therapies, as well as its potential use in treating other forms of addiction. Studies are also investigating the long-term safety and efficacy of varenicline.

Related pages

References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{intro}}
+{{Short description|Medication used to treat nicotine addiction}}
-Varenicline is a partial agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and is used to help in smoking cessation.
+{{Drugbox
+| verifiedrevid = 477241123
+| image = Varenicline.svg
+| image2 = Varenicline_ball-and-stick_model.png
+| width = 200
+}}
-{{livtox}}
+'''Varenicline''' is a medication used to treat [[nicotine addiction]]. It is marketed under the brand name '''Chantix''' in the United States and '''Champix''' in other countries. Varenicline is a prescription medication that helps people stop smoking by reducing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
-Varenicline has been associated with a low rate of serum enzyme elevations during therapy, and since approval and its wide scale use, with rare instances of clinically apparent mild liver injury.
-{{moa}}
-Varenicline (var en' i kleen) is a partial agonist of the α4 β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and appears to act by blocking the binding of nicotine to this receptor while providing partial agonist effect thus relieving nicotine craving.  Use of varenicline in a program to stop smoking has been shown to increase the rate of smoking cessation and to decrease relapse.
-{{fda}}
+==Mechanism of action==
-Varenicline was approved for use in the United States in 2006 and is widely used in smoking cessation programs.
+Varenicline is a partial agonist of the [[nicotinic acetylcholine receptor]] subtype _4_2. This receptor is believed to play a key role in the addictive properties of nicotine. By partially stimulating these receptors, varenicline reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Additionally, it blocks nicotine from binding to these receptors, thereby reducing the rewarding effects of smoking.
-{{dose}}
+==Medical uses==
-Varenicline is available in tablets of 0.5 and 1 mg under the brand name [[Chantix]].  The usually recommended regimen is to start with 0.5 mg once daily and increase to a maintenance dose of 1 mg twice daily, continuing therapy for at least 12 weeks after smoking cessation.
+Varenicline is primarily used as an aid to smoking cessation. It is typically prescribed as part of a comprehensive program that includes counseling and support. The standard course of treatment lasts for 12 weeks, but it may be extended for an additional 12 weeks to increase the likelihood of long-term abstinence.
-{{se}}
+==Side effects==
-Common side effects include nausea, vivid dreams, insomnia, anxiety, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, dry mouth, and change in appetite, some of the symptoms being those of nicotine withdrawal.  Varenicline has been reported to cause hypersensitivity reactions including Stevens Johnson syndrome.
+Common side effects of varenicline include nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping, and abnormal dreams. Some users may experience mood changes, depression, or suicidal thoughts. It is important for patients to be monitored for any changes in mood or behavior while taking this medication.
-{{substance abuse treatment agents}}
+==History==
-{{coststubd}}
+Varenicline was developed by [[Pfizer]] and was approved by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) in 2006. It has since become a widely used treatment for smoking cessation, although its use has been subject to some controversy due to reports of psychiatric side effects.
+==Research==
+Ongoing research is examining the effectiveness of varenicline in combination with other smoking cessation therapies, as well as its potential use in treating other forms of addiction. Studies are also investigating the long-term safety and efficacy of varenicline.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Nicotine replacement therapy]]
+* [[Bupropion]]
+* [[Smoking cessation]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
+[[Category:Smoking cessation]]
+[[Category:Pfizer brands]]
+[[Category:Nicotinic agonists]]