Journal Top Ten -- COLUMNS-Drugs & Supplements -- April 2008

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Chantix

ARTICLE: 'Efficacy and Safety of Varenicline for Smoking Cessation'

JOURNAL: The American Journal of Medicine 2008 Apr;121(4 Suppl 1):S32-42

SUMMARY: The article hails the effectiveness and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation. Varenicline, which is the first of a class of alpha(4)beta(2) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonists, curbs craving and lessens withdrawal symptoms. The authors say that clinical trials have demonstrated superior effectiveness of varenicline over placebo and bupropion-SR for achieving abstinence from smoking. The agent has also been shown to significantly delay smoking relapse, the authors note.

AUTHORS: …