Is Chantix Approved by FDA?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have approved Chantix (Varenicline Tartrate) for smoking cessation treatment. Chantix was approved by FDA on 11 May, 2006 for its notable potential to promote public health. This is the second medicine approved by FDA for smoking cessation treatment; the first to receive the approval was Zyban, fourth Pfizer medicine to receive FDA approval in 2006.

Unlike Zyban or nicotine-replacement therapies, Chantix works by blocking the brain receptors that help perpetuate addiction and lowers the cravings for nicotine. At the same time it also helps to overcome withdrawal effects of smoking. In more scientific terms, Varenicline obstructs activation of a4b2 receptors by nicotine, thus stimulates the central nervous mesolimbic dopamine system, which behind the neuronal mechanism produces sensational feelings upon smoking. A dditionally, a person may continue smoking while receiving treatment and the effect would be a reduced sense of satisfaction associated with cigarette smoking. This way Chantix helps to break the vicious cycle of nicotine addiction.

Chantix comes as a white tablet (0.5 mg) to start with followed by a blue tablet (1 mg) for administration during treatment. It has superior efficacy and safety record compared to other smoking cessation medications. In contrast to Zyban and other nicotine replacement devices, Chantix is well tolerated and has minimal side effects.

Chantix was approved based on the results of comprehensive clinical trial program involving more than 2,000 cigarette addicts. The Chantix therapy almost fourfolded the chances of quit smoking as compared to any other medication. The major healthcare institutes consider Chantix as a significant advancement in the underdeveloped area of cigarette smoking treatment.