Drug Comparison
For educational purposes only — a decision-support tool, not a substitute for clinical judgment.
Side-by-side rubric across 96 psychiatric medications. Every rating traces to a verbatim primary-source quote — click any cell to see it.
How to read this tool ▾
Rating scale
– Favorable / lower than class baseline
± Minimal / equivocal
+ Low / uncommon
++ Moderate / common
+++ High / very common
++++ Very high / class-outlier
Frequency vs severity
F = frequency, S = severity. Each gets its own pill colored on the same traffic-light scale: green → blue → yellow → orange → red. Click any cell for incidence percentages and NNH.
Evidence tier
A Network meta-analysis / RCT / FDA label
B Cohort / registry / pooled label data
C Expert review / textbook / case series
Sourcing
Click any cell to see the verbatim source quote and citation. Missing data shows n/a.
Data depth
++ Graded — frequency + severity, primary-source traces
+ FDA label — §6 frequency only (dashed border). Click for sub-types.
Blank — not yet checked (not “absent”)
–±++++++++++ABCF = frequency · S = severity · Dashed border = FDA label only · Click cell for details
1 drug selected — Varenicline(click to collapse)
1/4 selected
Varenicline
Chantix
Nicotinic Partial Agonist
FDA-approved indications
- Aid to smoking cessation treatment in adults
Off-label uses
- Alcohol use disorder (limited evidence)
- Cannabis use disorder (investigational)
MechanismPartial agonist at alpha4-beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors — reduces craving and withdrawal while blocking nicotine reward
Half-life~24 hours
Decision GuideWhen to pick each / when to consider an alternative
Varenicline
Consider when
- Smoking cessation — most effective single agent; Cochrane NMA RR 2.32 vs. placebo, superior to bupropion and single NRT
- Psychiatric comorbidity — EAGLES trial (n=8,144) confirmed no excess neuropsychiatric risk vs. NRT, bupropion, or placebo
- Polypharmacy concerns — no CYP metabolism, 92% renal excretion unchanged; virtually no pharmacokinetic drug interactions
- Willingness to combine with NRT — combination varenicline + NRT patch shows higher quit rates than either alone
- +1 more
Consider an alternative when
- Nausea-sensitive patients — ~30% incidence (dose-dependent); may limit tolerability despite gradual titration
- Severe renal impairment (CrCl <30) — requires dose reduction to 0.5 mg BID; not studied in dialysis patients
- Supply chain reliability critical — history of manufacturer recalls and shortages (nitrosamine contamination 2021); verify availability
- Unable to commit to 12-week minimum course — full benefit requires ≥12 weeks; shorter courses show higher relapse rates
- +1 more
| Axis | Varenicline nicotinic-partial-agonist |
|---|---|
| CNS | |
Activation / insomnia | |
Other neurologic effects | |
Headache | |
| GI | |
Nausea / GI (general) | |