This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
New study. New data. New perspective.


Block nicotine to help smokers quit successfully


EAGLES: The largest comparative randomised controlled trial of approved smoking cessation medications is now published.1


l No increased risk of neuropsychiatric adverse events with CHAMPIX® (varenicline tartrate) vs. placebo in smokers with or without a history of psychiatric disorder.1


l Superior abstinence rates with CHAMPIX® vs bupropion, NRT patches and placebo.1


STOP AND THINK AGAIN Changing perspectives with CHAMPIX in smoking cessation.


Prescribing information: CHAMPIX®


Film-Coated Tablets (varenicline tartrate)


ABBREVIATED PRESCRIBING INFORMATION – UK (See Champix Summary of Product Characteristics for full Prescribing Information). Please refer to the SmPC before prescribing CHAMPIX 0.5 mg and 1 mg. Presentation: White, capsular-shaped, biconvex tablets debossed with “Pfizer” on one side and “CHX 0.5” on the other side and light blue, capsular-shaped, biconvex tablets debossed with “Pfizer” on one side and “CHX 1.0” on the other side. Indications: Champix is indicated for smoking cessation in adults. Dosage: The recommended dose is 1 mg varenicline twice daily following a 1-week titration as follows: Days 1-3: 0.5 mg once daily, Days 4-7: 0.5 mg twice daily and Day 8 – End of treatment: 1 mg twice daily. The patient should set a date to stop smoking. Dosing should usually start 1-2 weeks before this date. Patients who are not willing or able to set the target quit date within 1-2 weeks, could be offered to start treatment and then choose their own quit date within 5 weeks. Patients should be treated with Champix for 12 weeks. For patients who have successfully stopped smoking at the end of 12 weeks, an additional course of 12 weeks treatment at 1 mg twice daily may be considered for the maintenance of abstinence. A gradual approach to quitting smoking with Champix should be considered for patients who are not able or willing to quit abruptly. Patients should reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment and quit by the end of that treatment period. Patients should then continue taking Champix for an additional 12 weeks for a total of 24 weeks of treatment. Patients who are motivated to quit and who did not succeed in stopping smoking during prior Champix therapy, or who relapsed after treatment, may benefit from another quit attempt with Champix. Patients who cannot tolerate adverse effects may have the dose lowered temporarily or permanently to 0.5 mg twice daily. Following the end of treatment, dose tapering may be considered in patients with a high risk of relapse. Renal impairment; Mild to moderate renal impairment: No dosage adjustment is necessary. Patients with moderate renal impairment who experience intolerable adverse events: Dosing may be reduced to 1 mg once daily. Severe renal impairment: 1 mg once daily is recommended. Dosing should begin at 0.5 mg once daily for the first 3 days then increased to 1 mg once daily. End stage renal disease: Treatment is not recommended. Hepatic impairment and elderly patients; No dosage adjustment is necessary. Paediatric patients; Not recommended in patients below the age of 18 years. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. Warnings and precautions: Effect of smoking cessation; Stopping smoking may alter the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of some medicinal products, for which dosage adjustment may be necessary (examples include theophylline, warfarin and insulin). Changes in behaviour or thinking, anxiety, psychosis, mood swings, aggressive behaviour, depression, suicidal ideation and behaviour and suicide attempts have been reported in patients attempting to quit smoking with Champix in the post-


marketing experience. A large randomised, double-blind, active and placebo- controlled study was conducted to compare the risk of serious neuropsychiatric events in patients with and without a history of psychiatric disorder treated for smoking cessation with varenicline, bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy patch (NRT) or placebo. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of neuropsychiatric adverse events that have been reported in post-marketing experience. The use of varenicline in patients with or without a history of psychiatric disorder was not associated with an increased risk of serious neuropsychiatric adverse events in the composite primary endpoint compared with placebo. Depressed mood, rarely including suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, may be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. Clinicians should be aware of the possible emergence of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients attempting to quit smoking with or without treatment. If serious neuropsychiatric symptoms occur whilst on varenicline treatment, patients should discontinue varenicline immediately and contact a healthcare professional for re-evaluation of treatment. Smoking cessation, with or without pharmacotherapy, has been associated with exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness (e.g. depression). Champix smoking cessation studies have provided data in patients with a history of psychiatric disorders. In a smoking cessation clinical trial, neuropsychiatric adverse events were reported more frequently in patients with a history of psychiatric disorders compared to those without a history of psychiatric disorders, regardless of treatment. Care should be taken with patients with a history of psychiatric illness and patients should be advised accordingly. Patients taking Champix should be instructed to notify their doctor of new or worsening cardiovascular symptoms and to seek immediate medical attention if they experience signs and symptoms of myocardial infarction or stroke. In clinical trials and post-marketing experience there have been reports of seizures in patients with or without a history of seizures, treated with Champix. Champix should be used cautiously in patients with a history of seizures or other conditions that potentially lower the seizure threshold. At the end of treatment, discontinuation of Champix was associated with an increase in irritability, urge to smoke, depression, and/or insomnia in up to 3% of patients, therefore dose tapering may be considered. There have been post-marketing reports of hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema and reports of rare but severe cutaneous reactions, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Erythema Multiforme in patients using varenicline. Patients experiencing these symptoms should discontinue treatment with varenicline and contact a health care provider immediately. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation: Champix should not be used during pregnancy. Women of child bearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant during treatment with Champix. It is unknown whether varenicline is excreted in human breast milk. Champix should only be prescribed to breast feeding mothers when the benefit outweighs the risk. There are no clinical data on the effects of varenicline on fertility. Non- clinical data revealed no hazard for humans based on standard male and


female fertility studies in the rat. Driving and operating machinery: Champix may have minor or moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Champix may cause dizziness and somnolence and therefore may influence the ability to drive and use machines. Patients are advised not to drive, operate complex machinery or engage in other potentially hazardous activities until it is known whether this medicinal product affects their ability to perform these activities. Side-Effects: Very commonly reported side effects were nasopharyngitis, abnormal dreams, insomnia, headache and nausea. Commonly reported side-effects were bronchitis, sinusitis, weight increased, decreased appetite, increased appetite, somnolence, dizziness, dysgeusia, dyspnoea, cough, gastrooesophageal reflux disease, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, toothache, dyspepsia, flatulence, dry mouth, rash, pruritis, arthralgia, myalgia, back pain, chest pain, fatigue and abnormal liver function tests. Other side effects were, diabetes mellitus, suicidal ideation, seizures, cerebrovascular accident, angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, electrocardiogram ST segment depression, myocardial infarction, haematemesis, haematochezia, Stevens Johnson Syndrome, angioedema and decreased platelet count. For full list of side effects see SmPC. Overdose: Standard supportive measures to be adopted as required. Varenicline has been shown to be dialyzed in patients with end stage renal disease, however, there is no experience in dialysis following overdose. Legal category: POM. Basic NHS cost: Pack of 25 11 x 0.5 mg and 14 x 1mg tablets Card (EU/1/06/360/014) £27.30 Pack of 28 1mg tablets Card (EU/1/06/360/015) £27.30 Pack of 56 0.5 mg tablets HDPE Bottle (EU/1/06/360/001) £54.60 Pack of 56 1mg tablets Card (EU/1/06/360/016) £54.60 Pack of 53 11 x 0.5 mg and 42 x 1mg tablets Card (EU/1/06/360/023) £54.60 Not all pack sizes may be marketed / marketed at launch Marketing Authorisation Holder: Pfizer Limited, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ, United Kingdom. Further information on request: Pfizer Limited, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS. Last revised: 06/2016.


Adverse events should be reported.


Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Adverse events should also be reported to Pfizer Medical Information on 01304 616161


Ref: CI 20_0.


References: 1. Anthenelli RM, et al. Lancet 2016 Apr 22. doi: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(16)30272-0[Epub ahead of print].


Date of preparation: July 2016 PP-CHM-GBR-0271 ©Pfizer 2016 nicotine-free quit


https://eorder.sheridan.com/3_0/app/orders/5803/article.php#2/z To find out more about this new study, use this QR code or link to access your free copy.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64