Does Effexor help in smoking cessation? (5+ factors)
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
In this article, we will explore whether Effexor helps in smoking cessation. We will also discuss what the research suggests, factors influencing smoking cessation with Effexor, and which drugs are more effective in smoking cessation compared to Effexor.
Does Effexor help in smoking cessation?
Effexor may help individuals in smoking cessation who smoke fewer cigarettes per day. Such individuals can benefit from Effexor treatment, along with nicotine patches and behavioural therapy (1).
Effexor, also known as Venlafaxine, belongs to the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) class of drugs and is FDA-approved for treating conditions such as depression, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and cataplexy.
Additionally, Effexor may also be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder, nerve-related problems with diabetes, and various pain-related issues (2).
Effexor works by increasing the levels of certain neurotransmitters by blocking their reuptake in brain cells, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Effexor affects serotonin in low doses, norepinephrine at medium doses, and inhibits dopamine at higher doses (3).
What does research suggest?
A clinical trial examined the impact of Effexor on smokers trying to quit, with 147 participants receiving either Effexor or a fake pill. All participants received nicotine patches and behavioural therapy.
The study indicated that Effexor helped those patients who smoked fewer cigarettes per day, improving their mood and reducing stress for over 6 weeks after quitting. However, the effectiveness of Effexor varies depending on the administered dose (1).
Another research study found that long-term use of Effexor for smoking cessation is less effective and may cause more side effects. However, it may reduce the number of cigarette consumption when used in combination with nicotine patches and counselling.
Additionally, genetic factors may also affect how people respond to Effexor during smoking cessation. Some individuals may experience only a few side effects and get more benefits with Effexor treatment (3).
What factors may affect smoking cessation with Effexor?
There are a few factors that may affect smoking cessation with Effexor, including:
- Genetic factors play a crucial role as individuals vary in their responses to the medication (3).
- The dosage of Effexor can impact smoking cessation as it may need to adjust dosage over time as per the response of the individual.
- Combining Effexor with counselling can increase the success rates.
- Some people may have improved symptoms in short-term treatment and vice versa; so the duration of treatment also affects smoking cessation with Effexor.
- Long-term treatment with Effexor may cause more side effects in some people and they may find it difficult to continue treatment.
- Regular monitoring is of utmost importance to observe the progress and adjust the dosage accordingly.
Which drugs are more effective for smoking cessation than Effexor?
Bupropion and Varenicline are commonly used medications for smoking cessation and have proven more effective than Effexor. Bupropion can reduce smoking cravings and can also be used by individuals without depression.
However, Bupropion may lead to side effects such as changes in behaviour, insomnia, or dry mouth. Varenicline also reduces nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms with potential side effects such as changes in taste, sleep disturbances, and headaches.
However, if you experience depression or suicidal thoughts during this process, please reach out to your healthcare provider. Other medicines such as Clonidine and Nortriptyline may be considered for individuals who do not respond well to other treatments (4,5).
Conclusion
In my perspective, Effexor may be effective in smoking cessation for those individuals who smoke fewer cigarettes per day, along with nicotine patches and counselling.
However, if you find it difficult to quit smoking while taking Effexor, your doctor may recommend other medicines according to your specific needs which are approved by the FDA for smoking cessation, such as Bupropion and Varenicline.
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References
1.-
Cinciripini PM, Tsoh JY, Wetter DW, Lam C, de Moor C, Cinciripini L, Baile W, Anderson C, Minna JD. Combined effects of venlafaxine, nicotine replacement, and brief counseling on smoking cessation. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005 Nov;13(4):282-92. doi: 10.1037/1064-1297.13.4.282. PMID: 16366758. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16366758/
2.-
Singh D, Saadabadi A. Venlafaxine. 2022 Oct 10. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30570984. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30570984/
3.-
Shoaib M, Buhidma Y. Why are Antidepressant Drugs Effective Smoking Cessation Aids? Curr Neuropharmacol. 2018;16(4):426-437. doi: 10.2174/1570159X15666170915142122. PMID: 28925882; PMCID: PMC6018185. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6018185/
4.-
Smoking cessation medications-MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [Review Date 2/28/2023]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007439.htm
5.-
Corelli RL, Hudmon KS. Medications for smoking cessation. West J Med. 2002 Mar;176(2):131-5. PMID: 11897741; PMCID: PMC1071687. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071687/
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