Pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence.
Pharmacotherapy can provide effective treatment of tobacco dependence and withdrawal, and thereby facilitate efforts to achieve and sustain tobacco abstinence. Currently approved medications for smoking cessation are nicotine replacement medications (NRT), including nicotine patch, gum, lozenge, sublingual tablet, inhaler and nasal spray, the antidepressant bupropion, and the nicotinic partial agonist varenicline. This review discusses the pharmacological basis for the use of these medications, and the properties that might contribute to their efficacy, safety, and abuse liability. The review also discusses how pharmacological principles can be used to improve existing medications, as well as assist in the development of new medications.
Fant
Reginald V
RV
Pinney Associates, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. rfant@pinneyassociates.com
Buchhalter
August R
AR
Buchman
Albert C
AC
Henningfield
Jack E
JE
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D009538:Nicotine