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
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use; these include the requirement for a prescription and the black-box warning by the Food and Drug Administration, rescinded in 2016.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
102102Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.