title: [Sustainable efficacy of oral varenicline for smoking cessation].
abstract: Varenicline (Champix) is an alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor antagonist that is used orally for treatment of nicotine dependence. We conducted a study to examine the sustainable efficacy of varenicline in smoking cessation. The subjects were 148 outpatients (113 men, 35 women; average age; 54.4 +/- 14.0 years) at 6 different hospitals, and their adverse events were monitored in each hospital. The 4-week continuous abstinence rates of smoking cessation were 17.6%, 75.0%, and 84.6% in groups treated for 4 or fewer weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, and 9 to 12 weeks, respectively, with the rate showing a significant increase according to treatment period. Among 83 patients who had adverse events, the abstinence rates were 76.9%, 92.3%, 54.5%, and 55.6% in an observed (OB) group, a nosotropic medication (NM) group, a dose-reduction (RD) group, and a drug-discontinuation (DC) group, respectively. Among 56 patients with nausea, the respective rates were 80.8%, 100.0%, 61.1%, and 50.0%, respectively, with a significantly higher success rate in the NM group than in the RD or DC groups (each p < 0.05). To sustain the efficacy of varenicline in patients with adverse events, we recommend a therapeutic strategy in which the active nosotropic medicine is administered over 12 weeks at the regular dosage.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University.
authors.forename: Shigemitsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onizawa
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozu
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katsura
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saiki
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiguchi
authors.forename: Mizue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagai
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068580:Varenicline