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Post by Cactus Jack on Feb 12, 2010 13:27:10 GMT -6
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Post by unlawflcombatnt on Feb 12, 2010 14:48:29 GMT -6
Thanks for the heads-up, Cactus Jack. I hadn't yet heard this about Chantix. The TV commercials certainly do paint a different picture. Here are a couple excerpts from Pfizers full product description: media.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_chantix.pdf[/u] selective for α 4ß 2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes.... Mechanism Of Action Varenicline binds with high affinity and selectivity at α 4ß 2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The efficacy of CHANTIX in smoking cessation is believed to be the result of varenicline’s activity at a sub-type of the nicotinic receptor where its binding produces agonist activity, while simultaneously preventing nicotine binding to α 4ß 2."[/ul] Chantix (varenicline) is an agonist for nicotine receptors--meaning it has stimulating effects on those receptors. And--surprise, surprise--when people stop taking Chantix, they have nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Who would have thunk it? In addtion, the manufacturer (Pfizer) acknowledges that 30% of users experience nausea. What I've seen in 20 years of medicine is that manufacturers' reported incidence of side effects is often understated--and often by a lot. The severity is often understated as well. In this case, even on a precursory first glance, it seems likely there would be problems when a person stops taking Chantix. It seems they'd be qualitatively the same as nicotine withdrawal from smoking cessation. The "partial" aspect of "partial agonist" leaves a lot of room for interpretation. If the dose is high enough, it may have the same effect that nicotine from tobacco smoke has. Thus a Chantix-using patient may be simply substituting a nicotine-like drug for nicotine itself. Chantix use would certainly eliminate the harmful effects of tobacco smoke on the lungs. But it may not do anything to eliminate the harmful effects of nicotine systemically (such as LDL and HDL). And it may do little to eliminate nicotine-dependence.
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