Review Finds Licensed Medicines Effective For Smoking Cessation

A latest review of 267 studies involving 101,804 people has led to the conclusion that licensed quit smoking medicines are indeed effective for triggering off smoking cessation.   

 

A group of researchers carried out the review to study the success rates of quit smoking medicines in comparison to placebos. The researchers considered a participant to be successful in smoking cessation if he quit smoking for a period of six months or more.

 

However, as the review came to a close, the researchers discovered that all medications were successful in improving quit smoking chances for smokers. The participants taking varenicline (chantix) or a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) had twice or three times more chances of quitting.  Smokers opting for a single NRT or administering bupropion, were 80% more likely to quit smoking than those taking placebos.

 

The researchers found out that those smokers who administered only varenicline had 50% more chances of successful smoking cessation in comparison to patients taking any nicotine replacement therapy.  Also, the results were the same when compared to participants taking any combination of two nicotine replacement therapies.  

 

Kate Cahill, the lead researcher, states that the review offers powerful evidence to prove that the main therapies available for smoking cessation, namely, varenicline(chantix), bupropion and nicotine-replacement therapy can help people quit smoking successfully. 

 

The review was published in the Cochrane Library. 

Source:  healthland.time.com,  Date:  31^st May 2013

 

 

B. C. Govt Gets Ready To Fight Off Smoking Addiction

With its free quit smoking program, the government of British Columbia (B.C.) is boosting up its fight against nicotine addiction. According to news sources, the government of B.C. is expecting a huge participation in its anti-smoking program. Large numbers of smokers choose to quit smoking in the New Year and hence the B.C. Health Ministry is anticipating that orders for prescription –based pills or nicotine-replacement therapies — such patches or gum will increase this month and till keep pouring in till March.

 

The B.C. government started the anti-smoking program in the month of September, 2011. However, according to the government, it was happy to see that it was able to fill above 161,453 orders.

 

Conventionally, the B.C. government has not provided for the expenses of maximum quit smoking therapies. But in accordance with the anti-smoking program, people are entitled to receive free, 12 week supply of prescription-based quit smoking medicines or a free supply of patches/gum for one time on a yearly basis.

 

The B.C. government pays for the cost of stop smoking medicines such as bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (sold as brand names chantix and champix). According to a disclosure by the government, around 23,752 people from Vancouver have filled quit smoking orders till now.  

 

Source: timescolonist.com, Date: 13^th January 2013