Eine Gruppe von Antibiotika antibiotika-wiki.de , zu denen das Natürliche Antibiotikum Lincomycin und sein halbsynthetisches Analogon Clindamycin gehören. Sie haben bakteriostatische oder bakterizide Eigenschaften, abhängig von der Konzentration im Körper und der Empfindlichkeit von Mikroorganismen. Die Wirkung ist auf die Unterdrückung der Proteinsynthese in Bakterienzellen durch Bindung DER 30s-Subeinheit der ribosomalen Membran zurückzuführen. Lincosamide sind resistent gegen die Wirkung von Salzsäure Magensaft. Nach oraler Verabreichung wird schnell absorbiert. Es wird für Infektionen verwendet, die durch Gram-positive Kokken (hauptsächlich als Medikamente der zweiten Reihe) und unvorhersehbare anaerobe Flora verursacht werden. Cuando se vincula un sitio web que vende productos farmacéuticos desde otro sitio - comprar-farmacia.es, como Search Engine Marketing a través del programa AdSense de Google, la degradación resultante puede disminuir drásticamente la cantidad de ingresos publicitarios obtenidos por el sitio web. Lo mismo se aplica a cualquier inclusión pagada. Esencialmente, el servidor de anuncios sirve una página desde su propio dominio. Si la página contiene un banner (es decir, una imagen) del dominio de una marca, la marca recibirá una parte de los ingresos publicitarios.

Die beste Apotheke der Schweiz. Online-Verkauf rund um die Uhr geöffnet, ausgezeichnetes Personal und sehr schnelle Lieferung, was braucht es sonst noch in einem Apothekengeschäft?
Versuchen Sie, bei uns zu bestellen und Sie werden nicht enttäuscht sein, beste Auswahl in der ganzen Schweiz, ausgezeichnete Produktqualität, sehr schnelle Lieferung und echte Privatsphäre!

Trdrp.org

Varenicline: Where are we today?

Phillip Gardiner, Dr. P.H.

Introduction

In 2006, Chantix (varenicline) splashed boldly onto the nicotine cessation medication scene with
full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval following the completion of three distinct
Pfizer-funded clinical trials (Jorenby et al., 2006; Gonzales et al., 2006; Tonstad et al., 2006).
Almost immediately, however, and contrary to the initial findings supporting the safety and
efficacy of varenicline, news reports and other information began to surface asserting that this
new smoking cessation aid appeared to have some serious psychiatric side effects (ABC Good
Morning America, 2007; Moore, Cohen, Furberg, 2008). These reports along with others
prompted the FDA in November of 2007 to impose requirements for the addition of specific
warnings and patient instructions on Chantix. In 2009, a black box warning was placed on
varenicline (FDA, 2007; FDA, 2009). Pfizer had once envisioned Chantix taking its place
alongside the pantheon of the drug maker's other highly successful products, Lipitor, Celebrex,
and Viagra. Instead, Chantix sales declined 15% to $155 million by the third quarter in 2009
(Pierson, Berkrot, 2010); and lawsuits have proliferated (Faulk, 2012). And just when we
thought that we knew all about varenicline and contrary to the clinical trial that found no
elevated cardiovascular risk compared to placebo (Rigotti, 2010), Sonal Singh and colleagues
published the results of a meta-analysis reporting that the cardiovascular side effects for this
medication were much greater than previously reported (Singh et al., 2011). Yet within eight
months of the Singh study, researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) also
published a meta-analysis of their own showing that varenicline did not have significant or
clinically meaningful cardiovascular risks associated with its use (Prochaska and Hilton, 2012).
These authors challenged the methods of the Singh meta-analysis and thus threw into doubt the
previous findings. And as the Singh / Prochaska debate continues, investigators across the
country continue to publish clinical trials results that show that varenicline is safe and efficacious
among most populations (Williams et al, 2012; Wong et al., 2012; Pachas et al., 2012).
All of these recently published studies really beg the question: Varenicline, where are we today?
Some are saying that the jury is still out, while many others maintain that the existing warnings
are sufficient and that varenicline can be used effectively to treat nicotine addiction. In this brief
report, we describe the past and current status of varenicline from a range of perspectives. We
trace its history and the apparent rise of associated psychiatric events reported by the drug maker
leading to the FDA warnings. We re-examine and identify the key issues in the debate
surrounding the Singh and Prochaska meta-analyses. We describe legal environment and some of
the lawsuits associated with Chantix. Finally, we examine the Tobacco-Related Disease
Research Program's (TRDRP) grant funding and program activities in this area, highlighting the
upcoming live webcast, Varenicline: Where are we today?
Varenicline; Novel Smoking Cessation Aid

Varenicline tartrate, sold as Chantix in the United States and Champix in Europe is a smoking
cessation drug that has gained wide use and at the same time generated much controversy. In
February 2006, the Food and Drug Administration gave varenicline a "priority review" by
shortening the standard ten-month period of review to only six months because ongoing clinical
trials were showing the drug to be safe and effective. One of three initial clinical trials found
that varenicline had significantly higher smoking abstinence rates than either bupropion (Zyban)
or placebo (Jorenby, et al., 2006). The authors of the study stated that, "the most common
adverse event was nausea" and overall that, "Varenicline is an efficacious, safe, and well-
tolerated smoking cessation pharmacotherapy" (Jorenby, et al., 2006). In another Chantix
Clinical trial, Gonzales and his team, reported in the Journal of the American Medical
Association that: "Varenicline was significantly more efficacious than placebo for smoking
cessation at all time points and significantly more efficacious than bupropion SR at the end of
12 weeks of drug treatment and at 24 weeks" (Gonzales, et al., 2006). Similarly, Tonstad and
colleagues reported that, "Smokers. showed significantly greater continuous abstinence in
weeks 13 to 24 compared with placebo. Continuous abstinence was maintained through the non-
treatment follow-up through week 52" (Tonstad, et al., 2006). Findings from these trials were
further supported by other studies; see for example Reus et al., 2007 and Hays, et al., 2008.
Varenicline is a novel smoking cessation aid in that it is non-nicotine based and works primarily
on the α4β2 nicotinic receptor in the brain. Varenicline partially stimulates these receptors,
occasioning dopamine release and in doing so decreases cravings for nicotine. Additionally,
when varenicline occupies the nicotinic receptors it blocks the reinforcing effects of smoking and
helps prevent relapse after quit attempts. In this regard, varenicline is a partial agonist that
allows the release of a small amount of dopamine, while at the same time it binds to neuronal
receptors to block attachment by nicotine. This novel property was first discovered in the Pfizer
labs using animal models in tests using cystisine, the chemical from which varenicline is derived
(Coe, et al., 2005).
Following the above-mentioned successful clinical trials and subsequent FDA approval,
varenicline, became widely available for use by clinicians in smoking cessation, taking its place
alongside bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Despite the initial enthusiasm,
however, some investigators began to raise cautionary flags. Klesges and colleagues, in a
JAMA editorial from 2006 titled, "Varenicline for smoking cessation definite promise, but no
panacea," cautioned that compliance levels were likely to be different in real world settings than
in academic medical centers. Furthermore, they noted, "the adverse effect profile of varenicline
revealed that nearly 30% of participants reported nausea, a rate significantly higher than with
either bupropion or placebo". Additionally, "abnormal dreams were common and much more
likely in the varenicline group" (Klesges et al., 2006). It is also important to note that these side
effects had been reported by the clinical trials mentioned above.
Varenicline; the Gathering Storm: Psychiatric Side Effects
By November 2007, the FDA issued an "Early Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review
of varenicline (marketed as Chantix)" (FDA, 2007). The FDA reported that they had received
"reports of suicidal thoughts and aggressive and erratic behavior in patients who have taken
Chantix, a smoking cessation product" (FDA, 2007). Many of the reports the FDA was
responding to were both from Pfizer and independent groups. By May 2008, Pfizer had updated its website and materials to alert customers that, "Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX" (Chantix.com, 2008). Indeed, by 2009 reports of side effects had become numerous enough and covered such a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular events, diabetes, renal failure and certain drug interactions that the FDA determined that it was necessary for Pfizer to place a black box warning on Chantix products and to inform caregivers and patients about the warnings (FDA, 2009). Other health-related groups following the developments on varenicline initiated their own investigations on the medication's safety and efficacy. One of these groups, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), a non-profit organized to educate the healthcare community, conducted a retrospective analysis on consumer calls and other reports to the FDA concerning varenicline. They reported that by the latter part of 2007, varenicline accounted for 988 serious injuries in the U.S. reported to the FDA, more than any other individual drug in this period. By comparison, the FDA received a median of five reports of serious injury for 769 different drugs in same period. Only 35 drugs accounted for 100 or more reports" (Moore, Cohen, Furberg, 2008). Following this report, Thomas Moore, the lead author on the above mentioned study, published another retrospective review of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting system from 1998 to 2010 finding that of the 3,249 reported cases of suicidal/self injurious behavior or depression, 2,925 or 90% were attributed to varenicline, only 229 or 7% to bupropion and, 95 or 3% to NRT (Moore, et al., 2011). It should be noted that both in the ISMP report and the PloS ONE publication, the data are raw numbers, and do not take into consideration the actual overall volume of prescriptions, reports, and inquiries for varenicline during this time period compared with other FDA approved smoking cessation medications. Despite this, Dr. Curt Furberg, a professor of public health sciences at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and a co-author of the above mentioned study told ABC news that: "The FDA's own data show that Chantix is more dangerous than other treatments to stop smoking," (ABC News, 2011). In response to the Moore et al., article Pfizer issued a press release questioning the author's methods: "The analysis by Moore et al is based solely on post-marketing reports of adverse events that have been available to the FDA for some time. Post marketing reports do not establish a cause and effect relationship between a medicine and a reported adverse event. These reports can come from any source ranging from patients to healthcare providers, and from phone calls to internet postings. Often these reports lack sufficient medical information to enable a meaningful assessment. Due to these limitations, any conclusions based on comparisons between different drugs and reporting rates are not reliable" (Pfizer, 2011). Still, in reaction to the Moore report and the continuing negative press for Chantix, the FDA conducted two observational studies among Chantix users at the Veteran's Administration and the Department of Defense. Of the more than 60,000 cases reviewed in these retrospective assessments, the studies found only 71 psychiatric hospitalizations and that these hospitalizations were no more common in varenicline users compared to nicotine replacement users (Silverman, 2012). These findings however, did not end the controversy, rather lawsuits continued to be filed against Pfizer (see below) and other potential side effects emerged. As for this latter point, a study conducted by Rigotti, et al., and published in 2010, found that: "Varenicline is effective for smoking cessation in smokers with cardiovascular disease. It was well tolerated and did not increase cardiovascular events or mortality; however, trial size and duration limit definitive conclusions about safety" (Rigotti, et al., 2010). This latter concern about safety, coupled with continuing reports of potential varenicline side effects, prompted the FDA, a year and a half later in June of 2011, to post the following on its website: "[6-16-2011] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is notifying the public
that the smoking cessation aid Chantix (varenicline) may be associated with a small,
increased risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in patients who have
cardiovascular disease. This safety information will be added to the Warnings and
Precautions
section of the Chantix physician labeling. The patient Medication Guide
will also be revised to inform patients about this possible risk." (FDA, 2011)
A closer look at the FDA website's evidence shows that it was drawn from the Rigotti study.
Despite the authors of that study stating clear limitations to any conclusions about safety
(Rigotti, 2010), the FDA appeared to have determined that it was necessary to alert the
public of the possibility of the small increased risk (FDA, 2011). One of the authors on the
Rigotti Study, Dr. Neal Benowitz, will be a panelist on the TRDRP live webcast:
Varenicline: Where are we today? (See below).
In Addition, Cardiovascular Side Effects, too? Sonal vs. Prochaska

In July of 2011, the scientific debate on the cardiovascular side effects of varenicline was taken
to a new level when Dr. Sonal Singh at Johns Hopkins's School of Medicine and colleagues
published results from a meta-analysis in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (Singh, et al
2012). The authors reported that based on the analysis of 14 double-blind, randomized
controlled trials that involved 8,216 patients and ranged in duration from 7 to 52 weeks, a
significantly increased risk of serious cardiovascular adverse events was associated with
varenicline - "1.06 percent in varenicline versus 0.82 percent in placebo group; Peto odds ratio
[OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.71" (Singh, et al, 2011). Said another way, the
authors reported that varenicline was associated with a 72% increased risk of serious adverse
cardiac events including myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular-related death. It
should be noted that along with this publication, a number of brief commentaries were included
in the CMAJ issue that published the Singh study questioning some of the methods used by
Singh and colleagues. Of particular note, are the comments by Taylor Hays, Professor of
Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, who was also the second author on Jorenby clinical trial. His
remarks foreshadow many of the points that would be made by Drs. Judith Prochaska and Joan
Hilton at the University of California San Francisco some eight months later. Hays pointed out
that Singh's findings must be tempered by the rarity of these events among participants in both
treatment groups of 1.06% among patients given varenicline and 0.82% among patients given a
placebo - an absolute percent difference of only 0.24% (Hays, 2011). Hays concluded that:
"Although their results suggest that a measure of caution should be taken in prescribing varenicline for the treatment of tobacco dependence, the small absolute risk of cardiovascular events associated with taking varenicline is outweighed by the enormous benefit of reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality that can be achieved with successful abstinence from smoking" (Hays, 2011). The initial methodological concerns with the Singh study gave way to a full review and meta-
analysis by Prochaska and Hilton of 22 trials that used varenicline as a smoking cessation aid,
encompassing 9,232 participants. In their review, they found a difference in risk of serious
cardiovascular events was only 0.27 percent between those on Chantix versus placebo, which
was not clinically or statistically significant (Prochaska and Hilton, 2012). The authors
identified a number of methodological issues they suggest that led Singh and colleagues astray.
First, they questioned Singh's inclusion of adverse events that were well beyond the treatment
period. Second, Singh and colleagues excluded trials where there were no cardiovascular events
and in doing so biased findings against the null hypothesis (i.e., of no cardiovascular risk).
Third, Prochaska and Hilton voiced concern about Singh's use of the Peto odds ratio, "which has
shown bias under conditions of imbalanced design and rare events, which were present in most
of the reviewed trials" (Prochaska and Hilton, 2012). Fourth, the UCSF authors were concerned
that in most of the studies reviewed by Singh, retention was lower in the placebo group, thus
reducing the likelihood of detecting adverse events in that arm of the study. This latter point was
noted in Hays' commentary when the Singh study was first published (Hays, 2011).
Singh responded to one of the UCSF researchers concerns about including events beyond the
treatment period. In an interview by Pharmalot (Ed Silverman's blog on the pharmaceutical
industry), Singh stated that, "what remains unknown is the length of time that a heart risk may
appear after treatment ends. We were learning from the Vioxx issues. With Vioxx, heart risks
didn't climb until long after people were taken off the drug" (Pharmalot, 2012). In a formal
response to the UCSF study, Singh and the second author on the CMAJ article, Dr. Yoon Loke from the
University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom stated that Prochaska and Hilton had excluded a number
of cardiovascular events from their review. Second, because Singh and team were using intent-to-treat
analysis, the non-compliance of placebo or varenicline group is not relevant. Third, Loke quotes the
Cochrane hand book that the Peto odds ratio, "method was found to be the least biased and most powerful
method, and that risk difference analytical methods tended to show conservative confidence interval
coverage and low statistical power when risks of events were low" (Singh, 2012).
This debate is ongoing and goes to the core of how meta-analysis is used to assess risk. Drs.
Singh and Prochaska will be participating in the upcoming TRDRP-sponsored live webcast to
discuss this issue (see below)
Drug Maker Sued, and Sued, and then Sued Some More

Chantix has generated thousands of personal injury and product liability lawsuits for Pfizer, none
of which has yet to be settled. Indeed, as of March 2012, nearly 2,500 (2,498) individuals and
companies have brought lawsuits against Pfizer concerning Chantix (Faulk, 2012). The cases
cited below are a sampling of what has become, one could argue, a cottage industry. For
example, in September of 2007 the parents of Carter Albrecht filed suit against Pfizer for
alleging that Pfizer had not disclosed neuropsychiatric risks associated with Chantix and that the
company failed to warn users of possible side effects adequately. Filed in Dallas, Texas, the suit
claims that once Carter started taking Chantix he became violent, confused and at times terrified.
Carter was shot to death by his neighbor, after he [Carter] violently banged on the neighbor's
door (Lawyersandsettlement.com, 2012). A subsequent blood test showed that Carter was
intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level 3 times the legal limit (Eiserer, 2007). Also in 2007, Judy
Whitley who alleges that her husband committed suicide after taking Chantix filed another suit in
Minnesota (Gibb 2012).
By 2008, the law firm Sanders, Viener and Grossman LLP had filed five separate product
liability lawsuits against Pfizer in New York State, alleging that each of the plaintiffs either
committed suicide or attempted suicide while suffering under the neuropsychiatric side effects of
Chantix (The Sanders Firm, 2012). In 2010, three personal injury lawsuits were filed against
Pfizer in New York Superior Court by the same law firm (The Sanders Firm, 2012). These
lawsuits claim that Pfizer had failed to inform doctors about the dangers associated with Chantix
and that the drug's labeling was inadequate. In two of the lawsuits filed, plaintiffs claim that
taking Chantix led them to attempt suicide while in the third case; wrongful death is claimed for
an Indiana woman who committed suicide after using Chantix (The Sanders Firm, 2012).
Indeed, cases became so numerous and multiplied nationwide across the country so quickly that
the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation grouped all these cases together and
in 2009 assigned them to the U.S. District Judge for Northern Alabama, Inge Johnson. Judge
Johnson has selected eight cases to be bellwethers, that is, test cases in the litigation against
Pfizer. He has grouped them in discrete groups, starting with the suicide cases then moving to the
suicidal ideation cases. The first case is scheduled for trial on October 22, 2012 (Faulk, 2012).
As these lawsuits make their way through the legal system, the drug maker continues to maintain
the safety and efficacy of its smoking cessation drug stating that, "Pfizer stands by Chantix
which is an effective treatment option for adult smokers who want to quit and has been approved
in 100 countries and prescribed to 15 million smokers, including 8 million in the United States."
Pfizer continues stating that, "to date, Chantix has been studied in more than 8,000 smokers,
including 30 randomized controlled clinical trials…and none of these studies have found reliable
scientific evidence that Chantix causes the neuropsychiatric events alleged in these lawsuits"
(Pfizer, 2011). Currently, Pfizer at the behest of the FDA is conducting large double-blind
placebo control safety trial among patients with and without psychiatric disorders. Results of
this trial are expected in 2017 (Pfizer, 2011).
Varenicline: Where are we today?
Pfizer is not alone in maintaining the safety of Chantix. The FDA continues to consider this drug, if the proper precautions are taken, to be an effective smoking cessation drug (FDA, 2012). In fact, published clinical trials continue to support Pfizer's claims of the safety and efficacy of Chantix. For example, Dr. Jean Wong and her team conducted a study on 286 patients to determine the efficacy and safety of a perioperative smoking cessation intervention with varenicline vs. placebo. These investigators found that: "A perioperative smoking cessation intervention with varenicline increased abstinence from smoking 3, 6, and 12 months after elective non-cardiac surgery with no increase in serious adverse events" (Wong et al., 2012). Similarly, Jill Williams and her group found that among patients with schizophrenia that, "Varenicline was well tolerated, with no evidence of exacerbation of symptoms, and was associated with significantly higher smoking cessation rates versus placebo at 12 weeks. Our findings suggest varenicline is a suitable smoking cessation therapy for patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder" (Williams, 2012). In still another recently published clinical trial among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, Pachas and colleagues found that varenicline: "may be well-tolerated and effective for smoking cessation in combination with group CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy] in stable outpatients with schizophrenia, a group with high rates of smoking and smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality" (Pachas, 2012). Dr. Eden Evins, an author on the study will join the TRDRP's live webcast (see below) to talk about varenicline and potential psychiatric co-morbidities. Even after numerous trials continue to support the safety and efficacy of varenicline, concerns
and controversy still surrounds this drug prompting some federal agencies to distance themselves
and their employees from the use of this product. In 2008, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration banned commercial pilots from using Chantix after the ISMP report asserted that
the drug was linked to blackouts and vision problems (Wood, 2008). Additionally the Federal
Motor Safety Administration (which oversees interstate commerce) followed suit and issued "a
warning advising medical examiners to not qualify anyone currently using varenicline for
commercial motor vehicle licenses" (Wood, 2008). The Department of Veterans Affairs has also
limited the use of Chantix, stating: "Varenicline is a second-line medication for smoking
cessation in the VA health care system and should be used only for those patients who have
failed an appropriate trial of nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, or combination
therapy.within the past year" (Veterans Administration, 2008, updated 2011). While some
commentators argue that the standard of practice should follow the recommendation of the U.S.
Veterans Administration (Moore et al., 2011), it should be borne in mind that all clinical trials
reviewed for this article supports Pfizer's claim of the efficacy and safety of varenicline/Chantix.
Only the Moore, et al., retrospective analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and
the Singh et al. meta-analysis coupled with individual reports have continued to raise some
concerns about this drug; thus begging the question: Varenicline: Where are we Today?
To address this question, the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP) is hosting a
live Webcast titled: Varenicline: Where are we today? This interactive webcast will take
place on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. PDT.
A panel of experts will examine
the issue surrounding the debate about varenicline and give their assessment of where we are
today with this drug. Panelists are Drs. Neal Benowitz, University of California San Francisco;
Eden Evins, Harvard University; Judith Prochaska, Stanford University; and Sonal Singh, Johns
Hopkins University. Information about how to join the webinar is posted on the TRDRP web
page devoted to
In the future, TRDRP plans to host other live webcasts on Burning Issues related to tobacco-
related disease and tobacco control research. These webcasts will identify critical questions
facing tobacco-related disease science and tobacco control, convene experts on the topic, and
host a nationwide discussion on these matters.
The TRDRP has been supporting research on varenicline for some time now. In the program's
2012 and 2013 Call for Applications, investigators were invited to apply for grants and conduct
studies that: "Improve the efficacy of varenicline and/or develop more efficacious partial
agonists." In a currently funded study, Dr. Dennis Dougherty suggests that, "One strategy to
developing new smoking cessation drugs is to develop molecules that target the same receptors
as nicotine, but that do not activate them in the same way. In this way, the drugs interfere with
nicotine's actions and negate its addictive properties. The smoking cessation drug Chantix is the
first pharmaceutical to work in this way, but, in part because of associated side effects, improved
versions of this drug would be of great interest" (Dougherty, 2010). In another TRDRP-funded
study, Dr. Tanuja Bordia, working along with his colleague Dr. Maryka Quik at SRI
International, has established that varenicline not only activates the α4β2 nicotine receptor, but
also activates the α6β2 receptor; this ability of varenicline to activate numerous receptors in the
brain may be in part responsible for Chantix's efficacy (Bordia, 2012).
From the research perspective, we see that the scientific evidence supports the efficacy of
varenicline for smoking cessation and continuous abstinence. On the other hand, lawsuits
continue to proliferate and the perception among the public and media is that varenicline comes
with psychiatric and cardiovascular risks. The presentations in the "Varenicline: Where are we
Today?" panel and live webcast will further elucidate science underlying the claimed safety and
efficacy of this smoking cessation aid. Chantix was the first smoking cessation aid of its kind,
and probably will not be the last.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the whole team here at the TRDRP, and especially Drs. Bart Aoki and
Norval Hickman for their support, insight and editing of this article. Also, special thanks to Dr.
Richard Hurt who reviewed the initial drafts. PG

REFERENCES
ABC Good Morning America. Girlfriend Believes Chantix Contributed to Texas Musician's Death ABC Good Morning America, first reported by Janet St. James of ABC News' Dallas affiliate WFAA. September 19, 2007. ABC News. FDA Should Warn Smokers of Increased Danger of Chantix, Study Says. World News with Diane Sawyer, November 3, 2011. Bordia T, Hirachova M, Chin M, McIntosh JM, Quik M. Varenicline Is a Potent Partial Agonist at α6β2* Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Rat and Monkey Striatum. J Pharmacol Exp
Ther. 2012 Aug; 342(2):327-34. Epub 2012 May 1.

Chantix.com. Important Safety Information. Posted 2008, retrieved 2012.

Coe JW, Brooks PR, Vetelino MG, Wurtz MC, Arnold EP, Huang J, Sands SB, Davis TI, Lebel
LA, Fox CB, Shrikhande A, Heym JH, Schaeffer E, Rollema H, Lu Y, Mansbach RS, Chambers
LK, Rovetti CC, Schulz DW, Tingley III FD, O'Neill BT. Varenicline: An r4â2 Nicotinic Receptor
Partial Agonist for Smoking Cessation. J. Med. Chem. 2005, 48, 3474-3477.

Dougherty D. Understanding nicotinic receptor subtype specificity. TRDRP Grant. 19XT-0102,
Abstract, 2010.
Eiserer T. Carter Albrecht, musician with Sorta, New Bohemians, Killed. Dallas Morning
News. September 5, 2007.

Faulk K. Federal judge sets dates for first two trials against Pfizer over Chantix stop-smoking
drug. Birmingham News. Sunday, March 25, 2012.

Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Early Communication
About an Ongoing Safety Review Varenicline (marketed as Chantix). Issued November 20,
2007.

Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Public Health Advisory: FDA Requires New Boxed Warnings for the Smoking Cessation Drugs Chantix and Zyban. Issued July 1, 2009.
Food and Drug Administration Drug Safety Communication: Chantix (varenicline) may increase the risk of certain cardiovascular adverse events in patients with cardiovascular disease. 2011-06-16. Gibb G. Chantix Update: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Lawyers and Settlements.com, May 14, 2012.
Gonzales D, Rennard SI, Nides M, Oncken C, Azoulay S, Billing CB, Watsky EJ, Gong J,
Williams KE, Reeves KR. Varenicline, an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist,
vs. sustained-release bupropion and placebo for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled
trial. JAMA. 2006; 296: 47-55.
Hays JT, Ebbert JO, Sood A. Efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation. Am J
Med, 2008 Apr; 121(4Suppl): S32-42.

Hays JT. Varenicline for smoking cessation: is it a heartbreaker? CMAJ 2011;183:1346-7.

Jorenby DE, Hays JT, Rigotti NA, Azoulay S, Watsky EJ, Williams KE, Billing CB, Gong J,
Reeves KR. Efficacy of varenicline, an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, vs.
placebo or sustained-release bupropion for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial.
JAMA. 2006; 296: 56-63.
Klesges RC, Johnson KC, Somes G. Varenicline for smoking cessation: definite promise, but no
panacea. JAMA. 2006 Jul 5; 296(1):94-5.

Lawyers and Settlements.com. Chantix Suicide and Side Effects. 2012

Moore TJ, Cohen MR, Furberg CD. Strong Safety Signal Seen for New Varenicline Risks. The
Institute for Safe Medication Practices. May 21, 2008.

Moore TJ, Furberg CD, Glenmullen J, Maltsberger JT, Singh S. Suicidal Behavior and
Depression in smoking Cessation Treatments. PLoS ONE. November 2011, 6(11):e27016.

Pachas GN, Cather C, Pratt SA, Hoeppner B, Nino J, Carlini SV, Achtyes ED, Lando H, Mueser KT, Rigotti NA, Goff DC, Evins AE. Varenicline for Smoking Cessation in Schizophrenia: Safety and Effectiveness in a 12-Week, Open-Label Trial. J Dual Diagnosis. 2012; 8(2):117-125. Epub 2012 May 11.
Pfizer. Pfizer Responds to Analysis in PLoS ONE, an Online Publication of the Public Library of Science, November, 2011. Pierson R, Berkrot B. Pfizer Sued Over Quit-Smoking Drug Chantix. Claims Journal. January, 2010. Prochaska JJ, Hilton JF. Risk of cardiovascular serious adverse events associated with varenicline use for tobacco cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 2012; 344; 1-11. Reus VI, Obach RS, Coe JW, Faessel H, Rollema H, Watsky E, Reeves K. Varenicline: new treatment with efficacy in smoking cessation. Drugs Today (Barc). 2007 Feb; 43(2):65-75. Rigotti NA, Pipe AL, Benowitz NL, Arteaga C, Garza D, Tonstad S. Efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with cardiovascular disease: a randomized trial. Circulation. 2010 Jan 19; 121(2):221-9. Epub 2010 Jan 4. Silverman E. Researchers Duel Over Chantix and Heart Risks. Pharmalot.com. May 11, 2012.
Singh S, Loke YK, Spangler JG, Furberg CD. Risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events
associated with varenicline: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ. 2011 September 6;
183(12): 1359-1366.
Singh S. Loke YK. Rapid Response [to] Prochaska and Hilton, Risk of cardiovascular serious
adverse events associated with varenicline use for tobacco cessation: systematic review and
meta-analysis. BMJ 2012;344:e2856.

The SandersFirm.com. Chantix; Suicidal thoughts, aggressive and erratic behavior in those who
have taken Chantix, FDA reports reveal. The Sanders Firm.

Tonstad S, Tonnoesen P, Hajek P, Williams KE, Billing CB, Reeves KB. Effect of Maintenance
Therapy with varenicline on smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;
296; 64-71.
Veterans Administration. Veterans Administration/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines: Varenicline Criteria for Prescribing; VA Center for Medication Safety, Tobacco Use Cessation Technical Advisory Group, Public Health Strategic Healthcare Group, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services, VISN Pharmacist Executives, and Medical Advisory Panel May 2008; Updated June 2008; Updated August 2008; Updated February 2010; Updated July 2011. Williams JM, Anthenelli RM, Morris CD, Tredow J, Thompson JR, Yunis C, George TP. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2012 May; 73(5):654-60. Wong J, Abrishami A, Yang Y, Zaki A, Friedman Z, Selby P, Chapman KR, Chung F. A Perioperative Smoking Cessation Intervention with Varenicline A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial. Anesth. V 117 no. 4; 1-10. Wood S. Pilots, air-traffic controllers, truck and bus drivers barred from taking smoking-cessation drug varenicline. Heartwire. May, 2008.

Source: http://www.trdrp.org/docs/varenicline-report.pdf

Why should addiction medicine be an attractive field for young physicians?

FOR DEBATE Why should addiction medicine be an attractive field for young physicians? Michael Soyka1,2 & David A. Gorelick3 Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Munich, Germany,1 Private Hospital Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland2 and Intramural Research Program, NationalInstitute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA3 ABSTRACT The clin

ohara-ch.co.jp

Drug Information Sheet ("Kusuri-no-Shiori") Information is based on approvals granted in Japan. In some cases, the approved details may vary in countries other than Japan. In deciding to use a medicine, the risk (side effects) of taking the medicine must be weighed against the benefit (effects) it will do. The patient's cooperation is indispensable here. Brand name : BICALUTAMID

Copyright © 2018 Predicting Disease Pdf