title: Pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pinney Associates, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. rfant@pinneyassociates.com
authors.forename: Reginald V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Fant
authors.forename: August R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Buchhalter
authors.forename: Albert C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Buchman
authors.forename: Jack E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Henningfield
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D009538:Nicotine