Varenicline is a medicine that helps people to stop smoking by reducing the craving and withdrawal symptoms of smoking. Since it was approved in 2006 and made available in many countries the following year, Varenicline is considered to be one of the most effective first-line treatments for smoking cessation, and is usually prescribed to smokers who have tried unsuccessfully to quit before or who are considered by their doctor to be a good first choice for treatment at their first visit. Your doctor will decide which medicine is best for you. Other alternatives include nicotine patches and gum, and bupropion, an antidepressant.
Contraindications to varenicline
This medicine should not be used in patients under 18 years of age, in pregnant or breast-feeding women, or in patients who are habitually self-medicating. People who are allergic to varenicline or other components of the medicine (e.g. theophylline, warfarin, insulin) may need to be treated with varenicline to change the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of the medicine, which may be contraindicated.
Risks
As a psychiatric medicinal product, it is possible that the medicine may destabilise the mental health of someone with 10000 puff vape who is vulnerable to this type of disorder.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Generally, it is important to combine bupropion with nicotine replacement therapy (e.g. nicotine lozenges and nicotine nasal sprays) to improve results. But all of this depends on an individual assessment of each person, which can only be made by a clinician.
Bupropion
Although many studies compared the effects of varenicline and bupropion and concluded that the former was more effective in stopping smoking, some studies showed that the combination of the two medicines was effective. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in June 2014 divided 222 smokers into two groups, one group receiving varenicline alone with placebo and the other group receiving bupropion-only. While the first group achieved a success rate of 25.9 percent in quitting, the group combining the treatments achieved a success rate of 39.8 percent.
Who should be consulted to prescribe varenicline
The main advantage of varenicline in smoking cessation is that it reduces the intensity of cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms by partially binding to the nicotine receptor. Smoking while taking this medicine makes smoking less pleasant, in addition to reducing the risk of relapse. Reducing relapse by using medicines while smoking also reduces the enjoyment of smoking.The side effects include sleep problems, stomach problems, gas and vomiting.
Expected results
Several studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of varenicline and this has been followed by the approval of varenicline in several countries. The wholesale disposableUK study included almost 2,000 smokers aged 21, which is the average daily cigarette consumption for the past 25 years. The result was that patients taking varenicline for 12 weeks had a doubling of the chance of stopping smoking compared with those taking bupropion, and a quadrupling of the chance for those taking placebo.
Complications
The most common side effect is nausea (seen in 30 percent of patients), which is reduced if the medicine is taken after a meal and a glass of water. Less than 6 percent of medical researchers stop using a drug because of this. Patients also commonly experience nausea, sleep disturbances, constipation, gurgling and vomiting. Some people may experience a decrease in their level of sleep and may have vivid and unusual dreams when taking this medicine. You should stop taking the medicine immediately and seek medical advice if you experience any of these symptoms, such as mouth sores or skin rashes.
By partially binding to the nicotine receptor, varenicline reduces the intensity of cigarette craving and withdrawal symptoms. On the other hand, if a person cannot resist smoking during treatment, even after taking the medicine, the medicine may reduce the feelings of pleasure associated with smoking, helping the patient to achieve a successful cessation.
How to take varenicline
Varenicline is introduced into the patient’s life in stages: first, a single dose of 0.5 mg daily for 3 days.
The patient then takes two doses of 0.5 mg at different times during the day for four days, and finally takes one dose at a time until the treatment is finished. This reduces the potential side effects and helps patients to stick to their treatment. Starting on day 8 of treatment, when the patient starts taking 1 mg of the medicine, it is possible to stop smoking during this time. This may be done during the second week of treatment or up to the 35th day of taking the medicine for the condition.
The tablets are to be swallowed whole with water and taken with or without a meal. Up to 3 percent of patients experienced increased irritability, craving for cigarettes, depression, or insomnia after stopping treatment with Champix.
