Furazolidone and Varenicline tartrate

• Generic Name: furazolidone
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

Furazolidone is used to treat bacterial and protozoal infections. It works by killing bacteria and protozoa (tiny, one-celled animals). Some protozoa are parasites that can cause many different kinds of infections in the body.

Furazolidone is taken by mouth. It works inside the intestinal tract to treat cholera, colitis, and/or diarrhea caused by bacteria, and giardiasis. Furazolidone is sometimes given with other medicines for bacterial infections.

Furazolidone may cause some serious side effects when taken with certain foods, beverages, or other medicines. Check with your health care professional for a list of products that should be avoided.

Furazolidone is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: varenicline
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Chantix, Chantix Starter Pack, Chantix Continuing Month

Adjunct in the cessation of cigarette smoking.

USPHS guideline for the treatment of tobacco use and dependence recommends varenicline as one of several first-line drugs that may reliably increase long-term smoking abstinence rates.

In clinical studies, varenicline therapy increased continuous abstinence rates compared with placebo or active comparator (e.g., bupropion). Also reduced urge to smoke.

In studies in patients with stable, documented cardiovascular disease and patients with mild to moderate COPD, efficacy of varenicline was comparable to that in the general smoking population without these conditions.

Also evaluated in patients with stable major depressive disorder in a postmarketing study; benefits also observed in this population without evidence of increased neuropsychiatric effects. (See Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Suicidality under Cautions.)

Efficacy and safety of varenicline given in conjunction with other smoking cessation therapies (e.g., bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy) not established.