Chantix Study Says the Drug Doesn’t Help Smokers Quit

by | Feb 18, 2016 | Prescription Drugs | 0 comments

Chantix, a prescription smoking-cessation medication, has no significant impact on whether people succeed in quitting smoking or not, says a study from UC San Diego. The research paper said that although Chantix has displaced some older tobacco addiction drugs, after approximately three months the difference between other methods of quitting and Chantix is nil.

Population Analysis of Smokers

The UC San Diego School of Medicine conducted a population study of more than 39,000 smokers who wanted to quit over two different time periods. The smokers were asked which nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) they were using and then asked to report their success with quitting. The Chantix study found that:
 

  • Chantix users stayed on NRTs longer than other medications and were initially less likely to relapse into smoking. 
  • After three months, however, the difference in relapse rates among Chantix users and those on other NRTs was no longer statistically significant.

History of Chantix

Chantix is the tradename for varenicline, a prescription medication designed to help smokers quit. It was developed by New York-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. The US the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its use for smoking cessation in 2006. Chantix is approved to be used for a period of up to 12 weeks.

For Chantix, the FDA shortened its normal review process from 10 months to 6 months, as it typically does for drugs which show a significant improvement compared to existing medication.

Possible Side Effects of Chantix

Since approving Chantix, the FDA has released several updated reports about the possible risks of the drug. Between 2009 and 2015, the FDA has released several studies about and recommendations for Chantix, including requiring the product box to contain labeling related to mood, behavior, and thinking, including risk of suicide.

The Real Reason Why People Quit Smoking

In an interview with KPBS about the Chantix study, UC San Diego epidemiologist, Wael Al-Delaimy said that NRTs have little to do with successful quitting overall.

“Seventy percent (of people) consistently said it was on their own,” Al-Delaimy said. “There is no magic bullet.”

Pfizer, manufacturer of Chantix, has also faced criticism for Prempro, a drug used to treat menopause, and Zoloft, a popular antidepressant. Pfizer had not released a formal statement about the Chantix study at press time.