Smoking Cessation With Varenicline, a Selective α4β2 Nicotinic Receptor Partial Agonist

Abstract

Cigarette smoking remains the world's leading cause of preventable death,¹ contributing to 5 million premature deaths in 2000,² which is estimated to increase to 10 million by 2020.¹ Surveys show that most smokers want to quit,³ but most attempts are unaided, with success rates of only 3% to 5% at 1 year.³ Current pharmacotherapies, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion hydrochloride, and nortriptyline hydrochloride, have shown moderate success, typically doubling short-term quit rates vs placebo,^4-7 with success at 1 year averaging approximately 7% to 30%, depending on the level of adjunctive behavioral counseling.^8,9 Consequently, additional, more efficacious smoking cessation medications are needed.