Does Chantix work to help you quit smoking?
Two recent studies were published in the Journal of American Medical Association about a new drug for smoking cessation (Gonzales et al, 2006; Jorenby et al 2006). Unlike other approved treatments for smoking cessation including nictotine replacement therapy, or selectively inhibit the reuptake of dopamine (Bubrorpion), Chantix is a partial agonist of the alpha 4 Beata 2 nictotinic acetylcholine receptor.In the study both of these studies, Chantix's efficacy exceeded buproprion SR and placebo (Jorenby et al, 2007).
During the last four weeks of treatment, 43.9% of participants in the varenicline (Chantix) group were abstinent from smoking compared with 17.6% and 29% in the placebo and buprioprion SR groups respectively.
In short, the participants in this study who took Chantix were more than twice as likely to quit smoking than those who took a placebo. Further, more participants who took Chantix quit smoking than those who took Zyban.
References
Gonzales D, Rennard SI, Nides M, Oncken C, Azoulay S, Billing CB, Watsky EJ, Gong J, Williams KE, Reeves KR; Varenicline Phase 3 Study Group. Varenicline, an alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, vs sustained-release bupropion and placebo for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006 Jul 5;296(1):47-55.
Jorenby DE, Hays JT, Rigotti NA, Azoulay S, Watsky EJ, Williams KE, Billing CB, Gong J, Reeves KR; Varenicline Phase 3 Study Group. Efficacy of varenicline, an alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, vs placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006 Jul 5;296(1):56-63.
To view the Pfizer website for Chantix, click here:
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