In a video interview with Greg Rose (Pharmexperts.com) Linda Dwoskin (Professor in Pharmaceutical Education, University of Ky, School of Pharmacy, Lexington, KY) discussed nicotine addiction and its therapy. Three approaches to the therapy of nicotine addiction are currently available: various formulations of nicotine itself, an antidepressant bupropion and varenicline, a nicotine receptor agonist. By binding to alpha4 beta2 subtype of nicotinic receptors varenicline prevents binding of nicotine to the same receptors. Varenicline is weaker than nicotine, so that its interaction with the receptors does no lead to the same consequences. The drugs are used either alone or in combination with the behavioral therapy. These approaches work in some peolple, but fail in others. Therefore, there is still a need for new drugs to help smokers to quit. Dwoskin and her associates discovered a new series of nicotinic receptor antagonists with a preferential effect at alpha6 beta2 subtype of the receptors. The compounds were patented by the University of Ky , but not yet tested clinically. Dwoskin discussed her work with nornicotine, a nicotine metabolite that is also addictive and may be partially responsible for desire to smoke. This videointerview is available on www. SciVee.com.
Keywords: nicotine -nicotine addiction - smoking - nicotinic receptor subtypes - Linda Dwoskin - Greg Rose - University of Kentucky- varenicline - Chantix -bupropion
Thursday, January 29, 2009
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