Antonia Raich1,2,3, Montse Ballbè2,4, Gemma Nieva5, Margarita Cano6, Teresa Fernández6, Eugeni Bruguera5, Esteve Fernández2,3. 1. a Mental Health Department , Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària , Manresa , Spain. 2. b Tobacco Control Unit, Institut Català d'Oncologia , L'Hospitalet , Spain (ICO-IDIBELL). 3. c Department of Clinical Sciences , School of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain. 4. d Alcohology and Psychiatry Unit, Hospital Clínic , Barcelona , Spain. 5. e Psychiatry Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERSAM , Barcelona , Spain. 6. f Mental Health and Addictions Department , Hospital de Mataró , Mataró , Spain.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: The safety of varenicline in the treatment of tobacco dependence has been questioned, in psychiatric patients. However, most published studies have not included psychiatric patients. OBJECTIVE: Assess the safety of varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: This is a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study. The sample is composed of three groups (patients with psychotic disorder, patients with alcohol dependence disorder and patients addicts in methadone maintenance treatment). Patients were recruited consecutively between September 2008 and June 2009 from 11 centers. All patients received a standardized smoking cessation program with varenicline and psychological support. Adverse events of the drug were monitored at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 of treatment. Bivariate analysis has been used. RESULTS: None of the 90 patients included, presented a serious adverse event. The most frequent adverse effect was dry mouth (28.9%), followed by the presence of flatulence (27.8%), abnormal dreams (27.8%), and nausea (22%), especially between weeks 2 and 6 of treatment. None of the patients referred intense suicidal ideation, although two referred to moderate suicidal ideation, which was solved in one case and in the other, treatment was discontinued. Four participants (4.4%) abandoned treatment because of gastrointestinal symptoms. The initial dose of varenicline was reduced in 25% of patients during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal adverse events are the most incident in this sample of psychiatric patients and no exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms was detected, thus indicating a good safety record for varenicline use for smoking cessation in psychiatric patients.
UNLABELLED: The safety of varenicline in the treatment of tobacco dependence has been questioned, in psychiatricpatients. However, most published studies have not included psychiatricpatients. OBJECTIVE: Assess the safety of varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: This is a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study. The sample is composed of three groups (patients with psychotic disorder, patients with alcohol dependence disorder and patients addicts in methadone maintenance treatment). Patients were recruited consecutively between September 2008 and June 2009 from 11 centers. All patients received a standardized smoking cessation program with varenicline and psychological support. Adverse events of the drug were monitored at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 of treatment. Bivariate analysis has been used. RESULTS: None of the 90 patients included, presented a serious adverse event. The most frequent adverse effect was dry mouth (28.9%), followed by the presence of flatulence (27.8%), abnormal dreams (27.8%), and nausea (22%), especially between weeks 2 and 6 of treatment. None of the patients referred intense suicidal ideation, although two referred to moderate suicidal ideation, which was solved in one case and in the other, treatment was discontinued. Four participants (4.4%) abandoned treatment because of gastrointestinal symptoms. The initial dose of varenicline was reduced in 25% of patients during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal adverse events are the most incident in this sample of psychiatricpatients and no exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms was detected, thus indicating a good safety record for varenicline use for smoking cessation in psychiatricpatients.
Authors: Jennifer B McClure; Melissa L Anderson; Katharine Bradley; Lawrence C An; Sheryl L Catz Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth Date: 2016-08-03 Impact factor: 4.773