Smoking cessation tx, sold out due to impurities

Varenicline Replace with Bupropion for fear of impurities

Nicopion, Healthpion, Papion ER, etc. are sold out one after another

Pharmacies near clinics participating in smoking cessation treatment support projects have no stock of drugs

According to local pharmacies on the 1st, most Bupropions used for smoking cessation treatment are sold out or lack of inventory, making it difficult to order at online malls.

 

This out of stock is related to the recent controversy over the detection of impurities in the Varenicline.

 

As NNV, a carcinogen, was detected in Champix (Varenicline), the company decided to voluntarily recover it.

 

The MFDS explained that N-nitroso-varenicline (NNV) is very low in the domestic Varenicline, but concerns about the ingredients remained in the market.

 

Pharmacists say that most hospitals and clinics, which have consulted and prescribed patients under the government's anti-smoking treatment support project, often prescribe alternatively with Bupropion.

 

A local pharmacist said, "I was contacted by the hospital to recommend a replacement drug," adding, "It was extremely rare for the hospital to ask the pharmacy to prescribe the drug first, but I was also embarrassed." Pharmacies that need to prepare related drugs are experiencing considerable confusion.

 

In particular, the situation is more serious in pharmacies where nearby hospitals and clinics participate in the government's anti-smoking treatment support project and have a large number of related prescription preparations.

 

These pharmacy pharmacists complain that it is not easy to secure inventory of medicines that are usually prescribed.

 

Currently, Bupropion, where hospitals and clinics have replaced the existing Champix (Varenicline), is a total of 6 products, including Nicopion Sr (Hanmi), Healthpion ER(Myungin), Addpion SR 150mg(Whanin), Papion(Korea Pharma), Well SR(Unimed), and Wellviewderma ER(Hutecs).

 

These items can be prescribed for the government's anti-smoking treatment support project, and most of them are currently out of stock at online drug malls or only a few are in stock.

 

Another pharmacist in Seoul said, "In the past, Champix monopolized the prescription of smoking cessation treatment," adding, "We contacted a nearby hospital and asked them to prescribe even a small amount of products in stock."