Trends in Varenicline Use for Tobacco Cessation, and Their Implications.


Journal

Journal of the American Pharmacists Association : JAPhA
ISSN: 1544-3450
Titre abrégé: J Am Pharm Assoc (2003)
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101176252

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
20 Apr 2024
Historique:
received: 15 02 2024
revised: 10 04 2024
accepted: 16 04 2024
medline: 23 4 2024
pubmed: 23 4 2024
entrez: 22 4 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. Varenicline is a preferred medication for tobacco cessation, and a prior report in the literature showed its use fell dramatically after the voluntary recall of Chantix (name-brand varenicline) in July 2021. Working with data on prescriptions for varenicline and nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT), we studied use from 2018 to 2023 to determine if varenicline use had recovered or if there had been a compensatory increase in NRT use. Data are yearly from state employees and their dependents who were aged >18 years and were health-insurance beneficiaries of the Washington Public Employees Benefits Board from July 2018 through June 2023. Data include numbers of tobacco users and numbers of prescriptions filled. The 5-year prevalence of tobacco use among 224,816 beneficiaries was 4.6%. The percentage of tobacco users who filled a prescription for varenicline fell from highs of 9.5% and 9.6% in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 year to lows of 5.3% and 6.4% in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 years. For nicotine replacement therapy, prescriptions rose modestly over the 5 years, from 4.5% in 2018-2019 to 6.0% in 2022-2023. Varenicline use dropped after the voluntary recall of Chantix by Pfizer in mid-2021 and has not returned to pre-recall levels. Pharmacists and other clinicians should address this drop, in addition to addressing longer-term challenges to increasing varenicline use; these include the requirement for a prescription and the black-box warning by the Food and Drug Administration, rescinded in 2016.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Tobacco use remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. Varenicline is a preferred medication for tobacco cessation, and a prior report in the literature showed its use fell dramatically after the voluntary recall of Chantix (name-brand varenicline) in July 2021.
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE
Working with data on prescriptions for varenicline and nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT), we studied use from 2018 to 2023 to determine if varenicline use had recovered or if there had been a compensatory increase in NRT use.
METHODS METHODS
Data are yearly from state employees and their dependents who were aged >18 years and were health-insurance beneficiaries of the Washington Public Employees Benefits Board from July 2018 through June 2023. Data include numbers of tobacco users and numbers of prescriptions filled.
RESULTS RESULTS
The 5-year prevalence of tobacco use among 224,816 beneficiaries was 4.6%. The percentage of tobacco users who filled a prescription for varenicline fell from highs of 9.5% and 9.6% in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 year to lows of 5.3% and 6.4% in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 years. For nicotine replacement therapy, prescriptions rose modestly over the 5 years, from 4.5% in 2018-2019 to 6.0% in 2022-2023.
DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS
Varenicline use dropped after the voluntary recall of Chantix by Pfizer in mid-2021 and has not returned to pre-recall levels.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists and other clinicians should address this drop, in addition to addressing longer-term challenges to increasing varenicline use; these include the requirement for a prescription and the black-box warning by the Food and Drug Administration, rescinded in 2016.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38649095
pii: S1544-3191(24)00122-5
doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102102
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

102102

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Auteurs

Zarrmein Khan (Z)

Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington.

Jeffrey R Harris (JR)

Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington.

Luke Dearden (L)

Washington State Health Care Authority.

Michelle Strait (M)

Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington.

Katie Treend (K)

Washington State Department of Health.

Heidi Glesmann (H)

Washington State Department of Health.

Beatriz H Carlini (BH)

Addiction, Drug & Alcohol Institute, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department, University of Washington.

Classifications MeSH