Dive Brief:
- A new study found there was no statistically significant difference between quit rates at six months and one year comparing across nicotine patches, lozenges, and Chantix.
- Published in JAMA, the study involved 1,086 adults in Wisconsin.
- This study is not good news for Chantix, which has seen declining sales over the last several years, from $846 million in 2010 to $647 in 2014, according to reporting from Stat News.
Dive Insight:
The study did, however confirm the three interventions have better outcomes than quitting cold turkey, which has a success rate of 3% to 5%. The six month quit rate for Chantix was 24%, compared to 23% for the patch and 27% for a combination of the patch and lozenges.
Chantix has a black box warning for psychiatric risks, aggressiveness, and an alcohol-related risk of seizures. While the results of this study don't prove Chantix is ineffective, they suggest the drug may not be more effective than other quitting aids. In addition, the patients who used Chantix during the study suffered from side effects, such as nausea, vivid dreams, and insomnia.