NEET PG Medical – 2019 – Question – 76

Correct Answer – B
Ans. B. Varenicline (If Bupropion is not an option)
Anti-smoking drugs:

• Bupropion (along with Varenicline & Nicotine replacement therapy) is a USFDA approved first-line agent for pharmacotherapy in smoking cessation.

Varenicline:

• Effective agents for smoking cessation.
• Synthetic drug with partial agonist action at α4 ß2 nicotinic receptors.
• Has antagonist properties persisting due to long half-life & high receptor affinity.
• Hence, prevents stimulant effect of nicotine at presynaptic α4 ß2 nicotinic receptors –> results in dopamine release.