Eficacia y seguridad de vareniclina en el abandono del tabaquismo

Abstract

Backgrounds

The purpose was to analyze the efficacy and safety of Varenicline in smokers who want to try to quit, verifying abstinence and adverse events during the treatment and follow-up phase.

Methods

An analytic, longitudinal and prospective study was performed. A total of 598 smokers who wanted to quit were included. Women accounted for 55% with a mean age of 45.7 years. A clinical history of smoking habit was obtained and associated comorbidity was investigated. Seven visits (baseline, weeks 2 and 4; 8, 12, 24, and week 52) were made. Telephone calls were also made in-between. Verbal manifestation of abstinence was confirmed with measurement of CO in exhaled air (<10 ppm). Treatment was received with Varenicline at standard dose (1 mg/12 h), for 12 weeks.

Results

Mean consumption of cigarettes was 27/day, cooximetry 28 ppm, Fagerström Test mean 6.70. The first cigarette was smoked in less than 30 minutes by 85% of the participants. Abstinence rate was 56% at week 12, 49% at week 24, and 41% at week 52. Most frequent adverse effects were nauseas, headache, insomnia, vomiting, abnormal sleep.

Conclusions

Varenicline has been shown to be an option for 1st line treatment of smoking cessation and can be an alternative to bupropion or nicotine replacement therapy, safe and well tolerated not only in healthy smokers but also in groups of smokers with comorbidity. More studies are needs in the groups of smokers having these characteristics.