The habit of smoking, as a physical and psychological addiction, can be almost impossible to defeat. There have been numerous smoking cessation aids introduced to assist smokers in their struggles, from nicotine-based patches and gums to laser treatments and hypnotherapy.
The most recent effort to help smokers overcome has been the new pill to stop smoking introduced by Pfizer in May of 2006. Chantix, as the pill is called, is a drug offering a new approach to using prescription drugs to fight nicotine addiction.
Prior to the introduction of the new pill to stop smoking, the prescription drug most often given to smokers as they attempted to quit was buproprion, which originally came to market as the anti-depressant Wellbutrin. Research showed that Wellbutrin was inhibiting nicotine receptors in the brain from causing cravings, and as time passed and people smoked less because their nicotine cravings were not as strong, they eventually withdraw from nicotine. The secret to Wellbutrin's success was in its ability to limit the cravings.
The Need For A Wellbutrin Alternative
But Wellbutrin was really designed to be an antidepressant, and smokers who did not like the idea of taking an antidepressant when they were not clinically depressed were left out in the cold. So researchers decided to take what they had learned abut the workings of Wellbutrin on the brain's nicotine receptors, and apply the knowledge to the development of a new pill to stop smoking. The result was Chantix, also affecting the nicotine receptors, but not in the same way as Wellbutrin.
The new pill to stop smoking stimulates the release of small amounts of dopamine in the brain, tricking the receptors into thinking nicotine has entered the bloodstream, and alleviating the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. But the new pill to stop smoking doesn't stop there; it also blocks real nicotine from attaching to those receptors if the smoker has a moment of weakness and lights up.
Effectiveness of Chantix
Clinical research indicates that the new pill to stop smoking was more effective in helping people give up smoking than Wellbutrin. Because of these results, the FDA put Chantix on its short list for approval, significantly reducing the time normally required for them to perform their own research.
The new pill to stop smoking has helped 44% of those smokers who use it stop smoking during the first twelve-week course of treatment; but in the year since its introduction only 14% to 24% of users have remained smoke-free. Because it is FDA-approved as a medical treatment for nicotine addiction, however, its use is normally covered by health insurance.
If you have been unable to give up cigarettes, you have nothing to lose by giving the new pill to stop smoking a try!
The most recent effort to help smokers overcome has been the new pill to stop smoking introduced by Pfizer in May of 2006. Chantix, as the pill is called, is a drug offering a new approach to using prescription drugs to fight nicotine addiction.
Prior to the introduction of the new pill to stop smoking, the prescription drug most often given to smokers as they attempted to quit was buproprion, which originally came to market as the anti-depressant Wellbutrin. Research showed that Wellbutrin was inhibiting nicotine receptors in the brain from causing cravings, and as time passed and people smoked less because their nicotine cravings were not as strong, they eventually withdraw from nicotine. The secret to Wellbutrin's success was in its ability to limit the cravings.
The Need For A Wellbutrin Alternative
But Wellbutrin was really designed to be an antidepressant, and smokers who did not like the idea of taking an antidepressant when they were not clinically depressed were left out in the cold. So researchers decided to take what they had learned abut the workings of Wellbutrin on the brain's nicotine receptors, and apply the knowledge to the development of a new pill to stop smoking. The result was Chantix, also affecting the nicotine receptors, but not in the same way as Wellbutrin.
The new pill to stop smoking stimulates the release of small amounts of dopamine in the brain, tricking the receptors into thinking nicotine has entered the bloodstream, and alleviating the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. But the new pill to stop smoking doesn't stop there; it also blocks real nicotine from attaching to those receptors if the smoker has a moment of weakness and lights up.
Effectiveness of Chantix
Clinical research indicates that the new pill to stop smoking was more effective in helping people give up smoking than Wellbutrin. Because of these results, the FDA put Chantix on its short list for approval, significantly reducing the time normally required for them to perform their own research.
The new pill to stop smoking has helped 44% of those smokers who use it stop smoking during the first twelve-week course of treatment; but in the year since its introduction only 14% to 24% of users have remained smoke-free. Because it is FDA-approved as a medical treatment for nicotine addiction, however, its use is normally covered by health insurance.
If you have been unable to give up cigarettes, you have nothing to lose by giving the new pill to stop smoking a try!
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