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| |  Varenicline and Bupropion Appear Safe, Effective Among Teen Smokers: Presented at SRNT By Louise Gagnon TORONTO -- February 20, 2011 -- Both varenicline and extended-release (ER) bupropion are safe and effecting in adolescents who are trying to quit smoking, researchers said here on February 17 at the 2011 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Annual Meeting. “Any measure of cessation is important at this stage since we know adolescents are very vulnerable to establishing [nicotine] dependence and a lifelong habit,” said Matthew Carpenter, PhD, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. “By themselves, the medications have been shown to be particularly efficacious amongst adults. The question is if they work with teens.” A total of 29 adolescents aged 15 to 20 years were blinded to receive either varenicline treatment or bupropion ER, with 1-week titration and active treatment for 7 weeks. “It is once-a-day dosing, which is particularly good for kids where compliance may be a problem,” said Dr. Carpenter. Fifteen adolescents who received varenicline decreased the number of cigarettes consumed per day from 14.1 to 0.9 -- a 94% reduction. Four teens achieved 7-day abstinence. Similarly, 14 adolescents who received bupropion ER decreased their cigarette per day consumption from 15.8 to 3.1 -- an 80% decrease -- with 2 patients achieving 7-day abstinence. Investigators observed no serious adverse events with either nicotine replacement therapy. No patients stopped varenicline because of adverse events, and 2 patients ceased bupropion ER -- 1 citing increased anxiety as the reason for withdrawing from treatment. “There were media reports about varenicline exacerbating psychiatric symptoms,” noted Dr. Carpenter, pointing out one of the aims of the study was to demonstrate the safety of the 2 nicotine replacement therapies. “Both medications hold the promise for placebo-controlled, efficacy trials in adolescents,” said Dr. Carpenter, noting the study was not powered to examine if one medication was superior to another.
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