varenicline

English

Chemical structure of varenicline

Etymology

From vare- (of unknown origin) +‎ -nicline (“nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonist”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /vəˈɹɛn.ɪk.lɪn/

Noun

varenicline (uncountable)

1. (pharmacology) A drug taken orally in the form of its tartrate C₁₃H₁₃N₃·C₄H₆O₆ as an aid to stop smoking. It binds to nicotinic cell receptors to block the activity of nicotine while also acting as an agonist to reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is marketed under the trademark Chantix.
   • 2010, Stephen Fry, The Fry Chronicles:

     Farewell Zyban, hello Champix, Pfizer's name for a new compound called varenicline, which is not an anti-depressant but a ‘nicotine receptor partial agonist’.

Derived terms

• varenicline tartrate

References

• “varenicline”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.