Question

. A patient who wants to quit smoking has a prescription for varenicline [Chantix], which will be used with a nicotine patch. The patient asks the nurse why the varenicline is necessary. Which statement by the nurse is correct?

a. "It helps patients experiencing withdrawal to sleep better."
b. "It helps reduce anxiety and other withdrawal symptoms."
c. "It will help reduce the likelihood of addiction to the patch."
d. "The drug blocks nicotine's access to 'pleasure' receptors."

Answer 1

The correct explanation for why varenicline is necessary in addition to a nicotine patch is that it blocks nicotine's binding to the 'pleasure' receptors in the brain, thus reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient who wants to quit smoking has a prescription for varenicline [Chantix], which will be used with a nicotine patch. When asked why varenicline is necessary, the correct statement by the nurse is: "The drug blocks nicotine's access to 'pleasure' receptors."

Varenicline operates by selectively blocking nicotine from binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors thereby preventing the nicotine in tobacco products from stimulating the reward pathways in the brain which is associated with nicotine addiction and withdrawal symptoms. This helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms which would otherwise make quitting smoking more difficult.