Open AccessEffectiveness of Varenicline in Psychiatric Patients with Co-Morbid Polysubstance Dependence
Author(s) -
Jung-Jin Kim,
Prashant Kaul,
Thomas L. Schwartz,
James L Megna
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of smoking cessation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1834-2612
DOI - 10.1017/jsc.2014.10
Subject(s) - varenicline , polysubstance dependence , medicine , smoking cessation , psychiatry , population , substance abuse , nicotine replacement therapy , dosing , nicotine , environmental health , pathology
Introduction: Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental health disorders (MHDs) have greater prevalence of smoking and suffer greater tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Varenicline is the latest FDA-approved smoking-cessation agent and few studies have investigated the use of varenicline in this difficult-to-treat population. Aims: This study examines the smoking cessation outcomes and tolerability of varenicline when used to help quit smoking in 16 patients enroled in both psychiatric and substance abuse programme. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 16 patient charts. Patient demographics, psychiatric disorder diagnoses, substance use history, dosing, side effects, number of cigarettes used pre/post varenicline use and the number of complete smoking cessation outcomes were tabulated. Results: After varenicline intervention, 25% of those who completed treatment completely quit smoking. Thirty-one per cent were able to substantially cut back the amount that they smoked to one cigarette per day. The average reduction in cigarettes was 16 per day (64%), and all but one patient tolerated varenicline. Conclusions: The authors observed reasonable clinical benefit when varenicline was used to help quit smoking in patients with comorbid SUDs and MHDs. Better-controlled future studies with larger sample sizes will help further determine clinical utility of varenicline in this difficult-to-treat nicotine-dependent population.