RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 ▼Varenicline for smoking cessation
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 33
OP 36
DO 10.1136/dtb.2008.04.0010
VO 46
IS 5
YR 2008
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/46/5/33.abstract
AB Relevant BNF section: BNF 4.10▼Varenicline (pronounced va-re-nik-leen) (Champix – Pfizer), a nicotinic receptor partial agonist, is the first medicine of this type licensed for smoking cessation in adults. Launched in the UK in December 2006, the drug accounted for 14% of all prescription items and 22% of total expenditure, for smoking cessation products dispensed in the community in 2007*.1–4 Marketing materials claim that it has a “unique dual action”, a “significantly higher quit rate” than bupropion, and a “favourable safety and tolerability profile”. Here we discuss the evidence for varenicline and consider its role in smoking cessation.