Pfizer launches Chantix!

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.

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.

Chantix is the latest aid for smoking cessation and works by attaching to nicotine receptors in the brain. The active ingredient in Chantix binds more strongly to the receptors than nicotine and hence even if a smoker smokes during the treatment, he gets no pleasure from smoking. Moreover, by attaching to the nicotine receptors, Chantix helps by relieving withdrawal symptoms and cravings that arise due to lack of nicotine.

Chantix is a pill, which prevents nicotine from reaching key receptors in the brain thus preventing the production of dopamine. Dopamine delivers feelings of pleasure, but the effects are temporary resulting in the craving for more nicotine. With Chantix, the short-term feelings of pleasure you receive from smoking are slowly eliminated over time. The effects are very subtle and you continue to smoke while taking Chantix until the pleasure you receive from smoking eventually disappears. Eventually smoking becomes futile and you do not even bother to light up anymore.

There are a number of products available on the market to help smokers kick the habit. Many products work by way of acting as a nicotine-distraction type therapy, and how well they work depends strongly on the quitter's personal will-power and commitment to want to quit long-term. However, stopping smoking with new pill chantix (varenicline) has some promise, but remember the hype when the pain reliever vioxx first came on the market. Keep that in mind as you consider whether Chantix is something, you want to try. What is promising about Chantix is that it works by dealing with both the psychological as well as the physical addiction to smoking, unlike many other products available. This new stop smoking pill chantix also works by providing support psychologically as well. As it aids the smoker by relieving them of the cravings of nicotine, it can help a smoker to identify their smoking triggers and hence why they are smoking. For many this can be a stress reliever, habit in general, weight-loss aid or otherwise.

Therefore, Chantix reportedly helps smokers stop by reducing cravings but also by decreasing the pleasure derived from nicotine.

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