About:
Many people in the United States smoke, there are also those that are trying and planning to quit. Smoking can cause health related issues. Pfizer's Chantix is one of the smoking cessation aids that can make quiting smoking possible.
In 1997 they planned to make the new medicine after varencline had been synthesized. The development was a complicated nine-step synthesis.Varencline tetrate has the molecular weight of 211.27 and is an achiral alkaloid. It is also an alpha-2-beta-4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In November 2005, it was submitted to the FDA to be approved. Finally after 6 months, the FDA approved Chantix in May 2006. It had been almost a decade after the last smoking cessation medicine had approved.
Chantix is a drug that helps people quit smoking and reduces the urge to smoke. This is a non-nicotine medicine,which means that it does not contain any nicotine. It can be prescribed to adults, ages 18 and older. It has been studied and has shown to work in 44% of the users after 9 to 12 weeks. Compared to another drug, Zyban, Chantix has had better results by 14%, even with a higher dose.
How it works:
Chantix is unique over other similar drugs because it works in two ways. One way that it works is by attaching to nicotine receptors in the brain and therefore blocks the nicotine so that it does not reach them. The other way is that it activates the receptor so that it releases less dopamine compared to nicotine, so there is less pleasure experience with smoking and no more urges that cause the person to feel the need to smoke.
You start the treatment a week before you actually stop smoking. It is a 12 week treatment. You start by taking a lower dose once a day, then after a week it is taken twice a day. The higher dose is taken twice a day starting at the 9th week of the treatment. If a person smokes while they are on this, it does not mean it will not work, but it is best if the person doesn't. If after 12 weeks the person has not stopped smoking, the doctor may recommend to take the treatment for another 12 weeks.
Safety Information/ Side Effects:
Chantix should not be taken with any other medications. While using Chantix or after using Chantix some people have experienced changes in behavior and mood, such as hostility, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Other people have an allergic reaction, so they cannot continue to use Chantix. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, and sleeping problems. This is a prescribed pill, so if any problems are experienced it is recommended to see your doctor.
