[Varenicline--a new chance for smokers?].

Cigarette smokers believe that quitting smoking is the hardest thing in their life. Modern pharmacology offers a wide range of various drugs and therapies that might support smoking cessation. One of the most effective drug is varenicline. Varenicline has been introduced this year to Polish pharmaceutical market by Pfizer company under the trade name Champix. The aim of the study was to critically review all new information about Champix pharmacology and pharmacokinetics but also evaluate safety and economical aspects of using this new drug. From the presented data it might be concluded that nowadays varenicline is the most effective drug used in smoking cessation (about 40%). The unique properties of varenicline, which is a partial agonist and antagonist to alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor, are the reasons of dual mechanism of the drug action. The agonist effect is caused by binding to nicotinic receptors and stimulating receptor-mediated activity. The antagonist effect occurs when varenicline blocks the ability of nicotine to activate nicotinic receptors. The most frequently adverse effects of varenicline are: nausea, headache, insomnia, and abnormal dreams. Although the price of complete therapy with Champix seems to be quite high, but potential benefits (in case of therapy finished successfully) are much higher than these costs. Pharmacological properties of varenicline described in the article, along with its high relative effectiveness and safeness, make the drug very attractive and promising for the smokers who want to quit.