VARENICLINE

Course overview

SMOKING IS A LEADING CAUSE OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN THE HUMAN POPULATION AND POSES AS ONE OF THE MOST MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS TOWARDS PREVENTING HUMAN DISEASE. MORE THAN 400,000 INDIVIDUALS DIE EACH YEAR PREMATURELY IN THE UNITED STATES FROM CIGARETTE USE. THIS STATISTIC REPRESENTS ALMOST ONE OF EVERY FIVE DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE MAJOR DISEASES CAUSED BY CIGARETTE SMOKING INCLUDE PREMATURE ATHEROSCLEROSIS, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE, AORTIC ANEURYSMS, CHRONIC AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION, MALIGNANCIES, AND SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME. IT IS A PREVENTABLE RISK FACTOR THAT CAN BE MODIFIED THROUGH COUNSELING AND PHARMACOTHERAPY TO DECREASE THE BURDEN OF DISEASE CAUSED BY SMOKING IMPACTING THE HUMAN POPULATION. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE INDICATIONS, MECHANISM OF ACTION, METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION, SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, TOXICITY, AND MONITORING, OF VARENICLINE SO PROVIDERS CAN DIRECT PATIENT SMOKING CESSATION THERAPY AS PART OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM.