Varenicline is a prescription medication used to treat smoking addiction. This medication is the first approved nicotinic receptor partial agonist. Specifically, varenicline is a partial agonist of the alpha4/beta2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In addition it acts on alpha3/beta4 and weakly on alpha3beta2 and alpha6-containing receptors. A full agonism was displayed on alpha7-receptors.
On March 9, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that Varenicline, in the form of Pfizer Inc's quit-smoking drug, Chantix, has been associated with seizures and that some patients who drink while taking the drug may become aggressive or black out. Pfizer is conducting an additional safety study of the drug, results of which are expected in late 2015. The FDA said it is keeping the black box in place at least until the results of the trial are announced.
For use as an aid in smoking cessation.
Varenicline as a nasal spray is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of dry eye disease.
Medical University of South Carolina - Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
MUSC Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
MUSC Lancaster, Lancaster, South Carolina, United States
Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County, Pickens, South Carolina, United States
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
University California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States
University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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