Seven-Day Continuous Abstinence Rate from Smoking at 1, 2, or 3 Years after the Use of Varenicline.
- Author:
Jin Se KIM
1
;
Ju Young JANG
;
Eun Hye PARK
;
Joo Young LEE
;
Kang Mo GU
;
Jae Woo JUNG
;
Jae Chol CHOI
;
Jong Wook SHIN
;
In Won PARK
;
Byoung Whui CHOI
;
Jae Yeol KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Compliance; Smoking; Varenicline
- MeSH: Compliance; Surveys and Questionnaires; Nicotine; Prescriptions; Receptors, Nicotinic; Smoke*; Smoking Cessation; Smoking*; Telephone; Varenicline
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2015;78(2):92-98
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Varenicline, a selective partial agonist/antagonist of the alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor, has proven effectiveness for smoking cessation by several randomized, controlled trials. Because few studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy of varenicline, we tried to evaluate the smoking status of varenicline users up to 3 years after the initial prescription of the drug. METHODS: We interviewed varenicline users who were prescribed the drug from June 2007 to May 2010 by telephone, from June 2010 to May 2011. RESULTS: One-hundred and thirty-three of 250 varenicline users (53.2%) were available for the survey. Seven-day continuous abstinence from smoking was adhered to by 17 of 39 respondents (43.6%) at 1 year, and 11 of 36 (30.6%) and 19 of 58 (32.8%) at 2 and 3 years since the first use of varenicline, respectively. Compared to current smokers, successful quitters were older (55.0 years vs. 49.9 years, p=0.01), had better compliance to the 12-week course (27.7 vs. 9.3%, p=0.01), and had taken varenicline longer (10.1 vs. 5.9 weeks, p=0.01). Fifty-four of 71 current smokers (76.1%) were willing to stop smoking in the near future. The preferred ways to cease smoking were will-power (48.1%), varenicline (25.9%), nicotine replacement therapy (11.1%), and others (14.9%). CONCLUSION: Smokers should be encouraged to stick to the proven way for recommended period of time for successful cessation of smoking.
