EAGLES Trial: Neuropsychiatric Safety of Varenicline
The Lancet (2016)
No significant increase in neuropsychiatric events vs NRT or placebo in 8,144 patients, including those with psychiatric disorders. Led to removal of black box warning.
How it works
Marek's Guided Optimization® Program combines advanced lab testing, a dedicated health coach and medical provider, and a personalized treatment plan, all built around your data.
Resources
The process
1
Start your assessment
Complete your 45-min intake assessment
2
Get your labs drawn
4,000 partnered lab locations nationwide
3
Review with your coach
Screen-by-screen lab review
4
Receive your protocol
Treatment delivered to your door
Why Marek
The only program pairing you with a dedicated health coach and medical provider, built on precision diagnostics, with no subscription required.
Resources
Meet our co-founder
Derek
Co-Founder · MPMD Podcast
"Over time, I found it incredibly difficult to get medical oversight for myself and my family that reflected the latest research, and that was preventative. That's why I started Marek Health."
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What we test
Every client's lab panel is hand-selected from 1,000+ available biomarkers, built around their specific goals.
Panel categories
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Treatments
700+ medical provider-prescribed therapies built from your labs. Browse by category or explore the full formulary.
Varenicline (Chantix)
Oral tablet (0.5mg, 1mg)Available in all 50 statesMarketing purposes only. Actual medications, if prescribed, are dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
other
Varenicline (Chantix)Varenicline (Chantix)
Partial agonist at α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the primary subtype mediating nicotine dependence. Most effective single-agent smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, approximately doubling quit rates compared to placebo.
Most effective single-agent smoking cessation aid
Approximately doubles quit rates
Addresses both withdrawal and reward pathways
12-week standard course
No commitment · HSA/FSA eligibleNo commitment · HSA/FSA eligible
How it works
Mechanism of action
Partial agonism at α4β2 nAChRs provides moderate dopamine release (reducing withdrawal/craving) while simultaneously blocking nicotine from binding (reducing reinforcement from smoking). Dual mechanism addresses both withdrawal and reward.
The baseline panel.
Every Marek client receives this baseline panel before a provider review. Your provider may add additional biomarkers based on your health history, symptoms, and goals, pulling from 1,000+ available markers. See more biomarkers →
Hormone Profile
12 markers
Sex hormones
- Total TestosteroneLC/MS
- Free TestosteroneEquilibrium Dialysis
- Estradiol, Sensitive / UltrasensitiveLC/MS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- ProgesteroneLC/MSFemale panel
- Prolactin
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- hCG, Total, QuantitativeFemale panel, pre-menopause
Adrenals & neurosteroids
- Cortisol
- DHEA-S
Growth hormone / IGF-1
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1)
Thyroid Status
3 markers
Thyroid hormones
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4
- Free T3
Heart Health
9 markers
Cardiovascular health
- Total Cholesterol
- HDL Cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol
- LDL:HDL Ratio
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Apolipoprotein-B (ApoB)
- C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hsCRP)
- Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a))
Metabolism
3 markers
Insulin sensitivity
- Blood Glucose
- Fasting Insulin
- HbA1c
Organ Function
26 markers
Liver & pancreas
- AST
- ALT
- Bilirubin, Total
- γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Kidney function
- BUN
- Creatinine w/ eGFR
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
- eGFR
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Carbon Dioxide, Total
- Calcium
- Protein, Total
- Albumin
- Globulin, Total
- Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- AST
- ALT
Prostate health
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)Male panel
- Free PSAMale panel
- % Free PSAMale panel
Nutrient Status
31 markers
Vitamins & minerals
- Vitamin D, 25-OHD (25-Hydroxy)
- Magnesium, RBC
Iron status
- Iron
- Iron Saturation
- TIBC
- UIBC
- Ferritin
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Count (WBC)
- Red Blood Count (RBC)
- Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Hematocrit (HCT)
- MCV
- MCH
- MCHC
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Platelets
- Neutrophils
- Neutrophils (Absolute)
- Lymphocytes
- Lymphocytes (Absolute)
- Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio
- Monocytes
- Monocytes (Absolute)
- Eosinophils
- Eosinophils (Absolute)
- Basophils
- Basophils (Absolute)
- Immature Cells
- Immature Granulocytes
- Immature Granulocytes (Absolute)
- NRBC, w/ Reflex for Immature Cells
Clinical evidence
The research behind Varenicline (Chantix).
Safety profile
Monitoring & safety information.
Commonly reported side effects
- Nausea (most common, 30%)
- Insomnia
- Abnormal dreams
- Headache
- Constipation
Less common but serious risks
- Neuropsychiatric events (depression, suicidal ideation, black box warning removed 2016 after EAGLES trial)
- Cardiovascular events (debated, small signal in meta-analyses)
- Seizures (rare)
Generally not appropriate for
- Known hypersensitivity
- End-stage renal disease (dose adjustment)
Typical monitoring
- Smoking status and quit date
- Neuropsychiatric symptoms
- Renal function (dose adjust if eGFR <30)
FAQ
Quick answers.
Partial agonist at α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the primary subtype mediating nicotine dependence. Most effective single-agent smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, approximately doubling quit rates compared to placebo.
Most effective single-agent smoking cessation aid. Approximately doubles quit rates. Addresses both withdrawal and reward pathways. 12-week standard course.
Common side effects include: nausea (most common, 30%), insomnia, abnormal dreams, headache, constipation. Most side effects are dose-dependent and may resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Partial agonist at α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the primary subtype mediating nicotine dependence. Most effective single-agent smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, approximately doubling quit rates compared to placebo.
Treatments are dependent on licensed clinical prescription. Client costs vary based on individual labs and panel in treatments and services.