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Smoking cessation - Management
Who should avoid taking varenicline?
- Pregnancy: varenicline should not be used during pregnancy, because data on its safety during pregnancy are inadequate.
- Breastfeeding: the safety of varenicline during breastfeeding has not been established.
- Children and adolescents: varenicline is not recommended for use in smokers younger than 18 years of age, as data are insufficient on safety and efficacy.
- Epilepsy: there is no clinical experience of varenicline in people with epilepsy.
- Renal impairment:
- No dosage adjustment is necessary for people with mild-to-moderate renal impairment.
- For people with severe renal impairment (estimated creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min), the recommended dose is varenicline 1 mg once daily. Dosing should begin at 0.5 mg once a day for the first 3 days, then increased to 1 mg once daily.
- Varenicline is not recommended for people who have end-stage renal disease.
[ABPI Medicines Compendium, 2008]
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