Varenicline (Varenicline)
Overview of Varenicline
Varenicline is a partial agonist selective for a4ß2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Varenicline, as the tartrate salt, is a powder which is a white to off-white to slightly yellow solid with the following chemical name: 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,10-methano-6H-pyrazino[2,3-h][3]benzazepine, (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioate (1:1).
Indication of Varenicline
Varenicline is primarily indicated in conditions like Smoking cessation.
Contraindication of Varenicline
No data regarding the contra indications of Varenicline is available.
Side Effects of Varenicline
The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Varenicline are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Headache, Nausea, Insomnia, Abnormal dreams.
Precautions of Varenicline
Patients who can not tolerate adverse effects of Varenicline may have the dose lowered temporarily or permanently. Patients should be treated with Varenicline for 12 weeks. For patients who have successfully stopped smoking at the end of 12 weeks, an additional course of 12 weeks treatment with Varenicline is recommended to further increase the likelihood of long-term abstinence. Patients who do not succeed in stopping smoking during 12 weeks of initial therapy, or who relapse after treatment, should be encouraged to make another attempt once factors contributing to the failed attempt have been identified and addressed.