Formulary
Cytisinicline: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Cytisinicline (cytisine), a plant alkaloid that resembles nicotine, is a nicotine-receptor partial agonist.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Cytisinicline: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Cytisinicline (cytisine), a plant alkaloid that resembles nicotine, is a nicotine-receptor partial agonist.
Drug action
Cytisinicline (cytisine), a plant alkaloid that resembles nicotine, is a nicotine-receptor partial agonist.
Indications and dose
**To aid smoking cessation**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 18-65 years Initially 1.5 mg every 2 hours from day 1 to 3, maximum 9 mg per day, then reduced to 1.5 mg every 2.5 hours from day 4 to 12, maximum 7.5 mg per day, smoking should be stopped no later than day 5, then reduced to 1.5 mg every 3 hours from day 13 to 16, maximum 6 mg per day, then reduced to 1.5 mg every 5 hours from day 17 to 20, maximum 4.5 mg per day, then reduced to 1.5-3 mg per day from day 21 to 25.
Cautions
Cardiovascular disease; diabetes; gastric and duodenal ulcer; gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; history of psychiatric illness (may exacerbate underlying illness including depression); hyperthyroidism; peripheral vascular disease; phaeochromocytoma; schizophrenia
Contraindications
Arrhythmias; recent myocardial infarction; recent stroke; unstable angina
Side effects
Common or very common Anxiety; appetite change; concentration impaired; constipation; diarrhoea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fatigue; gastrointestinal discomfort; headaches; hypertension; malaise; mood altered; myalgia; nausea; oral disorders; skin reactions; sleep disorders; tachycardia; taste altered; vomiting; weight increased Uncommon Dyspnoea; excessive tearing; hyperhidrosis; libido decreased; sputum increased
Interactions
**Other interactions (2):**
- Patient should be aware, that the simultaneous administration of the drug and smoking or use of products containing nicotine could lead to aggravated adverse reactions of nicotine (see section 4.4).
- Hormonal contraceptives It is currently unknown whether Cytisinicline may reduce the effectiveness of systemically acting hormonal contraceptives, and therefore women using systemically acting...
Pregnancy
Avoid (limited information available). M
Breast feeding
Avoid (no information available). M
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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