Abstract

Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the major avoidable causes of disease and mortality among adult smokers globally. India has 200 million estimated smokers. Every year in our country, smoking causes the deaths of almost 600,000 males between the ages of 25 and 69. The most common reason for smoking is the physical nicotine dependence. Varenicline is a novel class of drugs for the cessation of smoking that reduces the rewarding effects of nicotine and also reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting nicotine. The present study was undertaken to study the efficacy of Varenicline in nicotine de-addiction. Materials and Methods: 50 healthy and well-motivated Security Forces Personnel, ages ranging from 20-58 years, who self-reported nicotine deaddiction constituted the sample for the present study and were administered the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire for Nicotine dependence. Results: There was a significant difference existing between the pre and post-values on the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire after six months of review. Subjects who had responded well to deaddiction with Varenicline remained in remission even after six months. Conclusion: Varenicline is a first-line smoking cessation therapy option, as a possible substitute for bupropion SR or NRT. Keywords: Varenicline; Nicotine deaddiction; Relapse; Follow-up.

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