Varenicline

Generic name: Varenicline

Drug class: Cholinergic agonists, Smoking cessation agents

Dosage forms: Tablet

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 0.5, 0.5 -1, 1 mg

Mechanism of action: Varenicline is a smoking cessation medicine.

Drug usage cases: It is used together with behavior modification and counseling support to help you stop smoking.

Drug contra indications: You should not use varenicline if you used it in the past and had:

a serious allergic reaction–trouble breathing, swelling in your face (lips, tongue, throat) or neck; or a serious skin reaction–blisters in your mouth, peeling skin rash. Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

depression or mental illness; a seizure; kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis); heart or blood vessel problems; or if you drink alcohol. Varenicline is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling). Varenicline may cause serious side effects. Stop using varenicline and call your doctor at once if you have:

a seizure (convulsions); thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself; strange dreams, sleepwalking, trouble sleeping; new or worsening mental health problems–mood or behavior changes, depression, agitation, hostility, aggression; heart attack symptoms–chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; or stroke symptoms–sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), slurred speech, problems with vision or balance. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or behavior.

Warnings: When you stop smoking, you may have nicotine withdrawal symptoms with or without using medication such as varenicline. This includes feeling restless, depressed, angry, frustrated, or irritated. Stop taking varenicline and call your doctor if you have if you feel depressed, agitated, hostile, aggressive, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Do not drink large amounts alcohol. Varenicline can increase the effects of alcohol or change the way you react to it.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether varenicline will harm an unborn baby if you use the medicine during pregnancy. However, smoking while you are pregnant can harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. If you breast-feed while using varenicline, your baby may spit up or vomit more than normal, and may have a seizure.