Pharmacotherapy Options/Issues

[Nicole Stack]

Good Morning,
I hope that everyone enjoyed this morning's exciting Smoking Cessation Collaborative Teleconference and would like to provide my contact information to address any additional questions. I will respond to the questions discussed this morning via this webpage.

Thank You.

Nicole M. Stack, PharmD
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Primary Care
Albany College of Pharmacy
Phone: 518-445-7345
Fax: 518-445-7302
E-mail: stackn@acp.edu

[Scott Crespy]

On Wednesday, December 1, 2004, Dr. Nicole Stack, a Clinical Pharmacist and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Albany College of Pharmacy gave an excellent presentation on the pharmacotherapy options for smokers. She covered 5 forms of nicotine replacement therapies (i.e., patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler & nasal spray), buproprion, issues related to combination therapies and nicotine fading strategies.

http://jeny.ipro.org/files/crespy/80StackRealPlayerimage.jpg (rtsp://webstage.ipro.org/smoking-cessation/stack/nstackpharm.smil) Nicole Stack, PharmD. A look at the Pharmacologic Treatments for Smoking Cessation (rtsp://webstage.ipro.org/smoking-cessation/stack/nstackpharm.smil) (35 minutes). This is an outstanding RealPlayer multi-media presentation and is likely to be of excellent benefit to physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, discharge planners and anyone else who provides smoking cessation counseling. Free RealPlayer - Downloading Instructions (http://jeny.ipro.org/showthread.php?p=303#post303).

Thank you very much Dr. Stack for sharing this information with us on our recent smoking cessation collaborative conference call! Special thanks to Peter R. Smith, M.D., Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine at the Long Island College Hospital who also shared his expertise as well with some of the participants who had pharmacologic questions on this call.

Dr. Stack has graciously agreed to respond to any questions that are posted in this discussion area that are related to this topic. Let's show our appreciation for Dr. Stack's significant contribution by posting messages on this discussion board and by making this a vibrant thread! Thanks.

Scott Crespy, PhD
IPRO Smoking Cessation Project Manager

[Scott Crespy]

Hi Dr. Stack and other community members,

In addition to discussing those pharmacotherapy options that are currently available, it might be useful to be mindful of options that are still under development. Many of us have heard about a new smoking cessation medication called "Acomplia" or rimonabant by a company Sanofi-Aventis. It is my understanding that this medication may be helpful with weight loss as well as smoking cessation. In a Reuters news story listed in the International Herald Tribune, dated 3/2/05, it mentions that this medication may be available in 2006 (http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/01/business/sanofi.html).

Here appears to be a balanced article discussing this medication, written by Richard Fogoros, MD and titled: "Rimonabant Still Impressive But... caution urged over possible toxicity" (http://heartdisease.about.com/od/dietandobesity/a/rimonabant5.htm) listed on About.com.

Scott Crespy, PhD
IPRO Smoking Cessation Project Manager

[mariefel35]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released an early communication alert for the smoking-cessation drug varenicline (Chantix). Available in 0.5 mg and 1 mg tablets, varenicline is titrated up from an initial dose of 0.5 mg daily to 1 mg twice daily.

http://include.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/ALL03/71211001/0/section

[earric]

Am both delighted and confused having reached this place. Somehow I cant seem to understand why there are not many people who have been sharing their thoughts here initially I was feeling so glad to have come to a community that might help me in quiting as all my personal efforts to quit have gone vain. Also the way this community is setup foxed me for a while, I thought there were no places to post comments. As a novice here please tell me how I can help myself to quit with the program you are talking about.

[mariefel35]

Hi earric,

You can find lots of information from this website.
Welcome to the community.
Good luck to your 'mission' in life.
We are proud of you.
We know it is not easy, but with your determination and support from people that you care, you will reach your goal ----- to quit smoking.
Good luck again.

[leslie holmberg]

Congratulations for making a positive decision for your life.

You may find the following helpful.

The New York State Smoker's Quitline provides free and confidential smoking cessation counseling. You may be able to qualify for free Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The Quitline can be contacted by calling
1-866-697-8487. It is a free call.

The Quiline also has a website
www.nysmokefree.com (http://www.nysmokefree.com)

There is a lot of information available at that site as well.

The American Lung Association has a free, web-based smoking cessation program available at its national web site. It is also confidential. It is self-directed, and you move at your own pace.

Good luck. Quiting smoking is the single best move you can make to improve your health.

Leslie