By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

CHANTIX -- A NEW STOP SMOKING DRUG -- MAY BE HELPFUL FOR READER

Question: Last week I participated in the Great American Smokeout and decided to quit smoking for more than just the one-day smokeout. So far, after one week, I’m still off the smokes, but I’m afraid I might give in to temptation. A friend of mine said there’s a new drug that you can take that really helps reduce the urge to smoke. He also said if you smoked while on this drug you would not get the usual “kick” that smokers enjoy. Can you tell me the name of this drug? How good is it?

Answer: You are to be commended for your participation in the Great American Smokeout. This annual event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, has been very successful over the years in promoting the stop smoking message.

Yes, there are several drugs that can help people with their stop-smoking efforts. The one you are talking about, I believe, is Chantix. This new quit-smoking aid received governmental approval last year. Its active ingredient is varenicline tartrate -- an innovative molecule developed by Pfizer. I think it might be worth a try in your case.

Chantix works by binding to receptor sites in the brain where nicotine normally binds. This may help people wishing to quit smoking in two ways. First, it provides some of the same effects as nicotine, which can help ease the withdrawal symptoms that many who try to quit experience. Second, if a person using Chantix falters and lights up a cigarette, Chantix may block the nicotine from binding to those sites. This can prevent the “nicotine rush” that smokers typically experience.
Chantix was approved by the Food and Drug Administration more quickly than most drugs because of its potential positive impact on public health. Tobacco use -- particularly cigarette smoking -- is the single most preventable cause of death. In addition to lung cancer, it’s been linked to cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, stomach, cervix, kidneys and pancreas. Smoking is also a leading cause of diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) emphysema, and high blood pressure.

Though Chantix is not a miracle cure for smoking addiction, it does seem to help many people who are serious in their desire to quit. Before the approval of Chantix six clinical trials were conducted with a total of more than 35,000 chronic smokers. In five studies Chantix was shown to be superior to giving subjects a “sugar pill,” or placebo. In two studies Chantix was able to help more smokers give up the habit than Zyban, another quit smoking medication.

In these studies, Chantix was generally well tolerated by patients. The most common side effect was nausea, which affects about three percent of those taking the drug. For the next three most common side effects -- changes in dreaming, headache and insomnia -- the incident rate for the group getting Chantix was not significantly different from that of the group receiving the placebo drug.

If you decide you’d like to try Chantix to help in your fight against the smoking habit, I’d suggest that you talk with your family physician. The initial treatment is a 12-week course of taking the medication. Then, if you are successful in quitting, your doctor may prescribe an additional 12 weeks to increase the likelihood of long-term success.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.