[Drug of the month. Varenicline (Champix)].
Smoking is responsible for 20,000 premature deaths per year in Belgium. Paradoxically, few drugs are efficient to induce tobacco cessation and to decrease relapse. Until a few weeks ago nicotin replacement therapy and bupropion only were validated in this indication. Varenicline (Champix), a partial agonist of nicotinic receptors, is a novel type of drugs currently also accepted for sale for smoking cessation. This article dwells on recent publications about efficacy of varenicline. Position, side-effects and advantages of the drug are discussed.
Vandemergel
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Service de Médecine Interne Générale et Centre d'Aide aux Fumeurs, CHR Nivelles-Tubize, Belgique. vandemergel.x@infonie.be
D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline
D001552:Benzazepines; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D016642:Bupropion; D000068580:Varenicline