Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Comparing the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in a Novel In Vivo Exposure System
Published on: May 24, 2017
[New drugs; varenicline]
H van Bronswijk1, E A Dubois, F G Zitman
1Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden.
Varenicline helps smoking cessation by reducing cravings and nicotine's reward effect. After one year, 22% of users remained abstinent, despite side effects like nausea.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Nicotine dependence is a significant public health issue.
- Nicotine exerts its effects via alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
- Chronic nicotine use leads to dependence and reward-seeking behavior.
Purpose:
- To evaluate varenicline's efficacy and side effects for smoking cessation.
- To understand varenicline's dual mechanism of action in smoking cessation.
Summary:
- Varenicline, a partial agonist of alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, aids smoking cessation.
- It reduces nicotine craving by acting as a partial agonist and blocks nicotine's reward effect through antagonism.
- Key side effects include nausea, vomiting, and headache. One-year abstinence rates were 22% in the treated group.
Impact:
- Varenicline offers a pharmacological approach to smoking cessation.
- Understanding its mechanism provides insights into addiction treatment.
- Demonstrates a viable option for individuals seeking to quit smoking.
More Related Videos
04:29Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
Published on: January 7, 2019
10:29Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Published on: May 9, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...
FDA Approved Drugs: Changes to Approved Drugs
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Stimulants
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...