The Journal of the Japanese Respiratory Society ONLINE JOURNAL

ABSTRACT

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Article in Japanese

Original Article

Sustainable efficacy of oral varenicline for smoking cessation

Shigemitsu Onizawa1), Haruko Taniguchi2)3), Tomoko Nozu1), Asuka Asano4), Hideki Katsura4), Kumiko Saiki5), Toshio Kiguchi5), Mizue Hasegawa1) and Atsushi Nagai1)

1)First Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University
2)Teine Keijinkai Clinic
3)Ohmichi Clinic of Internal and Respiratory Medicine
4)Division of Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center
5)Kiguchi Clinic of Internal Medicine

ABSTRACT

Varenicline (Champix®) is an α4β2 nicotinic receptor antagonist that is used orally for treatment of nicotine dependence. We conducted a study to examine the sustainable efficacy of varenicline in smoking cessation. The subjects were 148 outpatients (113 men, 35 women; average age; 54.4±14.0 years) at 6 different hospitals, and their adverse events were monitored in each hospital. The 4-week continuous abstinence rates of smoking cessation were 17.6%, 75.0%, and 84.6% in groups treated for 4 or fewer weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, and 9 to 12 weeks, respectively, with the rate showing a significant increase according to treatment period. Among 83 patients who had adverse events, the abstinence rates were 76.9%, 92.3%, 54.5%, and 55.6% in an observed (OB) group, a nosotropic medication (NM) group, a dose-reduction (RD) group, and a drug-discontinuation (DC) group, respectively. Among 56 patients with nausea, the respective rates were 80.8%, 100.0%, 61.1%, and 50.0%, respectively, with a significantly higher success rate in the NM group than in the RD or DC groups (each p<0.05). To sustain the efficacy of varenicline in patients with adverse events, we recommend a therapeutic strategy in which the active nosotropic medicine is administered over 12 weeks at the regular dosage.

KEYWORDS: Varenicline, Smoking cessation, Adverse events, Nausea

RECEIVED: 2009.10.7

JJRS, 48(11): 791-796, 2010

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