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Varenicline

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Varenicline
Clinical data
License data
Routes of
administration		Oral
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein binding<20%
MetabolismLimited (<10%)
Elimination half-life24 hours
ExcretionRenal (81–92%)
Identifiers
  • 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro- 6,10-methano- 6H-pyrazino (2,3-h)(3) benzazepine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC13H13N3
Molar mass211.267 g/mol g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • n1c2cc3c(cc2ncc1)[C@@H]4CNC[C@H]3C4
  • InChI=1S/C13H13N3/c1-2-16-13-5-11-9-3-8(6-14-7-9)10(11)4-12(13)15-1/h1-2,4-5,8-9,14H,3,6-7H2/t8-,9+ checkY
  • Key:JQSHBVHOMNKWFT-DTORHVGOSA-N checkY
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Varenicline (trade name Chantix in the USA and Champix in Canada, Europe and other countries, marketed by Pfizer, usually in the form of varenicline tartrate), is a prescription medication used to treat smoking addiction. Varenicline is a nicotinic receptor partial agonist. In this respect it is similar to cytisine and different from the nicotinic antagonist, bupropion, and nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like nicotine patches (commonly, "the patch") and nicotine gum. As a partial agonist it both reduces cravings for and decreases the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Through these mechanisms it can assist some patients to quit smoking.

The US Food and Drug Administration requires Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion) to carry a black box warning, the agency's strongest safety warning, due to public reports of side effects including depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal actions[1]. In fact a 2009 study on almost 11,000 participants showed no such adverse effects. The conclusion of the study was "We found no clear evidence of an increased risk of self harm, suicidal thoughts, or depression in people prescribed varenicline compared with those prescribed other smoking cessation products. In view of increasing concerns about the possible increased risk of suicide associated with these drugs and their increasing popularity, further investigation of their effect on suicide risk is required in other databases and through secondary analysis of all adverse event reporting in relevant clinical trials. Any such risk must be balanced against the likely long term health benefits of smoking cessation and the robust evidence of the effectiveness of varenicline as an aid to smoking cessation." [2].

History

Varenicline was discovered at Pfizer through the research aimed at modifying the structure of cytisine.[3][4][5]

Varenicline received a "priority review" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2006, shortening the usual 10-month review period to 6 months because of its demonstrated effectiveness in clinical trials and perceived lack of safety issues.[6] The agency's approval of the drug came on May 11, 2006.[7] August 1, 2006, varenicline was made available for sale in the United States and on September 29, 2006, was approved for sale in the European Union.[8]

Indications

Varenicline is indicated for smoking cessation. It is an alternative to NRTs and nicotine-agonist medication and has demonstrated greater efficacy than them in comparable studies.[9][10] In a 2006 randomized controlled trial sponsored by Pfizer Inc. after one year the rate of continuous abstinence was 10% for placebo, 15% for bupropion and 23% for varenicline.[9] In a 2009 meta-analysis of 101 studies which "received unrestricted funding from Pfizer Ltd to evaluate anti-smoking agents" varenicline was found to be more effective than bupropion (odds ratio 1.40) and NRTs (odds ratio 1.56).[10]

The FDA has approved its use for twelve weeks. If smoking cessation has been achieved it may be continued for another twelve weeks.[7]

Varenicline has not been tested in those under 18 years old or pregnant women and therefore is not recommended for use by these groups. Women currently breastfeeding should also avoid this product since varenicline may pass into the breast milk leading to unknown effects on the child.

Mechanism of action

Varenicline is a partial agonist of the α4β2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In addition it acts on α3β4 and weakly on α3β2 and α6-containing receptors. A full agonism was displayed on α7-receptors.[11]

Acting as a partial agonist varenicline binds to, and partially stimulates, the α4β2 receptor without producing a full effect like nicotine. Thus varenicline does not greatly increase the downstream release of dopamine. Due to its competitive binding on these receptors, varenicline blocks the ability of nicotine to bind and stimulate the mesolimbic dopamine system, akin to the action of buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid addiction.

Pharmacokinetics

Most of the active compound is excreted renally (92–93%). A small proportion is glucuronidated, oxidated, N-formylated or conjugated to a hexose.[12] The elimination half-life is about 24 hours.

Side effects

Common

Nausea occurs commonly in people taking varenicline. Other less common side effects include headache, difficulty sleeping, and abnormal dreams. Rare side effects reported by people taking varenicline compared to placebo include change in taste, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatulence, and constipation.[13]

Depression and suicide

In November 2007, the FDA announced it had received post-marketing reports that patients using varenicline for smoking cessation had experienced several serious symptoms, including suicidal ideation and occasional suicidal behavior, erratic behavior, and drowsiness. On February 1, 2008 the FDA issued an alert to further clarify its findings, noting that "it appears increasingly likely that there is an association between Chantix and serious neuropsychiatric symptoms." It is unknown whether the psychiatric symptoms are related to the drug or to nicotine withdrawal symptoms, although not all patients had stopped smoking. The FDA also recommended that health care professionals and patients watch for behavioral and mood changes.[14] In May 2008, Pfizer updated the safety information associated with varenicline, noting that "some patients have reported changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions." [15]

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) conducted an analysis of post-marketing adverse effects reports received by the FDA. According to this analysis, in the fourth quarter of 2007 varenicline accounted for more reports of serious side effects than any other drug. Suicidal acts and ideation, psychosis, and hostility or aggression, including homicidal ideation, were the most prominent psychiatric side effects. Multiple reports suggested that varenicline may be related to the loss of glycemic control and new onset of diabetes, heart rhythm disturbances, skin reactions, vision disturbances, seizures, abnormal muscle spasms and other movement disorders. ISMP noted that the reports do not establish causality and only identify potential causes and concluded that further research and a priority review of the data by the FDA is necessary.[16]

A study conducted by Group Health Center for Health Studies, SRI International, and Free & Clear, Inc., published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine on February 24, 2009, concluded that people with a history of depression are not qualitatively more susceptible to the reported psychiatric side effects of varenicline than people with no history of depression.[17]

On June 4, 2009, the FDA announced it was evaluating varenicline for additional potential side effects including angioedema, serious skin reactions, visual impairment, and accidental injury.[18] On July 1, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration required varenicline and Zyban (bupropion) to carry a black box warning, the agency's strongest safety warning, due to side effects including depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal actions.[1]

A cohort study published in November 2009 analyzed medical records of 80,660 persons attempting to quit smoking (10,973 of which were using Varenicline) and found no evidence of an increased risk of depression, self-harm and suicidality, although a small increase could not be ruled out on statistical grounds.[19]

The Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia has received more than 1000 reports of adverse events related to varenicline (although these could also be attributed to smoking cessation) as of May 2010, with 67% of these describing psychiatric symptoms such as depression, aggression and anxiety.[20]

Controversy

  • On September 3, 2007, musician Carter Albrecht was shot and killed by his girlfriend's neighbor. Albrecht's girlfriend and others close to him have publicly claimed that varenicline contributed to the erratic behavior which led to his death.[21]
  • On Thursday, May 22, 2008, The New York Times reported that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had announced the day before a ban on the use of varenicline for both pilots and air traffic controllers, due to concerns with possible adverse neuropsychiatric effects which could be detrimental to public safety.[22]
  • On Sunday, May 25, 2008, The Los Angeles Times reported that over 2 dozen traffic accidents had been linked to varenicline and reported to the FDA. Warnings had previously been issued by Pfizer regarding the risks of varenicline while driving. [23]
  • On October 23, 2008, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices issued an analysis of prescription drug-related injuries reported to the FDA during the first quarter of 2008. According to the report, varenicline had more reported incidents than any other drug, with 1001 new cases of adverse effects and 50 more deaths reported. (Heparin, the drug with the second highest number of injury reports, had 779 new cases, most of which were connected to a contaminant inadvertently introduced into the drug in early 2008). In comparison, the ISMP reported that in the first quarter of 2008 there were 17 serious injury reports for nicotine-replacement products, and 44 reports for bupropion (sold as Zyban as a smoking cessation medication). Varenicline did not rank in the ten drugs with the most related deaths, but did rank first in reports of suicide or self-injury, with 228 reports citing these effects. The ISMP noted that the high number of varenicline-related injury reports may be related to the publicity surrounding the medication's potential side effects.[25]
  • On January 15, 2009, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices issued its analysis of prescription drug-related injuries reported to the FDA during the second quarter of 2008. During this period there were 910 newly-reported cases of serious injury attributed to Varenicline, including 38 deaths. In addition to the above-reported psychiatric effects, the report noted increasing evidence linking Varenicline to "potentially life-threatening allergic reactions." According to the report, Varenicline had the second-highest number of new injury reports during this quarter. By comparison, Digoxin had the highest number, with 1882 injury reports and 650 associated deaths, the majority of which were linked to a manufacturing quality control problem and subsequent recall of the Digitek brand of Digoxin.[26]
  • On February 4, 2009, Health Canada announced that it had received more than 800 complaints from Canadian users, many of them reporting mood swings, depression or suicidal thoughts.[27]
  • On June 3, 2010, Health Canada also announced changes to the Canadian Product Monograph that include changes in mood or behaviour (such as depressed mood, agitation, aggression, hostility, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others); serious allergic reactions (such as swelling of the face, lips, gums, tongue and throat that can cause trouble breathing) and skin reactions (such as rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin); neuropsychiatric side-effects in patients taking varenicline with or without a history of psychiatric disorder; drinking alcohol increasing the risk of experiencing neuropsychiatric side effects; and side-effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures, or difficulty concentrating. Health Canada advised those taking varenicline not engage in potentially hazardous activities, such as driving a car or operating dangerous machinery until they know how they may be affected by varenicline. It's important to note that this information is not verified to be from any actual clinical study. [28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b FDA. "Public Health Advisory: FDA Requires New Boxed Warnings for the Smoking Cessation Drugs Chantix and Zyban". Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  2. ^ "Varenicline (Chantix) does not produce depression or suicide: new study".
  3. ^ Coe JW, Brooks PR, Vetelino MG; et al. (2005). "Varenicline: an alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor partial agonist for smoking cessation". J. Med. Chem. 48 (10): 3474–7. doi:10.1021/jm050069n. PMID 15887955. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Schwartz JL (1979). "Review and evaluation of methods of smoking cessation, 1969–77. Summary of a monograph". Public Health Rep. 94 (6): 558–63. PMC 1431736. PMID 515342.
  5. ^ Etter JF (2006). "Cytisine for smoking cessation: a literature review and a meta-analysis". Arch. Intern. Med. 166 (15): 1553–9. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.15.1553. PMID 16908787.
  6. ^ Kuehn BM (2006). "FDA speeds smoking cessation drug review". JAMA. 295 (6): 614. doi:10.1001/jama.295.6.614. PMID 16467225.
  7. ^ a b U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves Novel Medication for Smoking Cessation. Press release, 11 May 2006.
  8. ^ European Medicines Agency (2011-01-28). "EPAR summary for the public. Champix varenicline". London. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  9. ^ a b Jorenby DE, Hays JT, Rigotti NA, Azoulay S, Watsky EJ, Williams KE, Billing CB, Gong J, Reeves KR (2006). "Efficacy of varenicline, an alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, vs placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA. 296 (1): 56–63. doi:10.1001/jama.296.1.56. PMID 16820547.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ a b Mills EJ, Wu P, Spurden D, Ebbert JO, Wilson K (2009). "Efficacy of pharmacotherapies for short-term smoking abstinance: a systematic review and meta-analysis" (PDF). Harm Reduct J. 6: 25. doi:10.1186/1477-7517-6-25. PMID 19761618.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  11. ^ Mihalak KB, Carroll FI, Luetje CW (2006). "Varenicline is a partial agonist at alpha4beta2 and a full agonist at alpha7 neuronal nicotinic receptors". Mol. Pharmacol. 70 (3): 801–5. doi:10.1124/mol.106.025130. PMID 16766716.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Obach, RS; Reed-Hagen, AE; Krueger, SS; Obach, BJ; O'Connell, TN; Zandi, KS; Miller, S; Coe, JW (2006). "Metabolism and disposition of varenicline, a selective alpha4beta2 acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, in vivo and in vitro". Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals. 34 (1): 121–30. doi:10.1124/dmd.105.006767. PMID 16221753.
  13. ^ American Cancer Society. "Cancer Drug Guide: Varenicline". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  14. ^ "Early Communication About an Ongoing Safety Review: Varenicline (marketed as Chantix)". United States Food and Drug Administration. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2007-11-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ "Important Information about Chantix". Retrieved 2008-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ Institute for Safe Medication Practices. "Strong Safety Signal Seen for New Varenicline Risks".
  17. ^ McClure JB, Swan GE, Jack L; et al. (2009). "Mood, side-effects and smoking outcomes among persons with and without probable lifetime depression taking varenicline". J Gen Intern Med. 24 (5): 563–9. doi:10.1007/s11606-009-0926-8. PMC 2669860. PMID 19238488. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ FDA. "Potential Signals of Serious Risks/New Safety Information Identified from the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) between October – December 2008". Retrieved 2009-03-02.
  19. ^ Gunnell D, Irvine D, Wise L, Davies C, Martin RM (2009). "Varenicline and suicidal behaviour: a cohort study based on data from the General Practice Research Database". BMJ. 339: b3805. doi:10.1136/bmj.b3805. PMC 2755726. PMID 19797344.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Elijah, Jennifer. "Varenicline (Champix): an update". Australian Prescriber (33). Australia. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  21. ^ "Did Quit-Smoking Pill Lead to Man's Death?". abcnews.com. 2007-09-19. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  22. ^ Saul, Stephanie (2008-05-22). "F.A.A. Bans Antismoking Drug, Citing Side Effects". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  23. ^ Alonso-Zaldivar, Ricardo (2008-05-25). "Drug taken to stop smoking is linked to traffic mishaps". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  24. ^ Hudson, Audrey (2008-06-17). "VA Testing Drugs on War Veterans". The Washington Times. p. A1.
  25. ^ Institute for Safe Medication Practices. "Quarter Watch: 2008 Quarter 1" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  26. ^ Institute for Safe Medication Practices. "Quarter Watch: 2008 Quarter 2" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-01-15.
  27. ^ "Over 800 complaints on quit-smoking aid reported to Health Canada". CBC. February 4, 22009. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "CHAMPIX (varenicline tartrate) - Changes to the Canadian Product Monograph - For the Public". Health Canada. June 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
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