A new, and potentially effective drug, to help cigarette smokers quit smoking has been fast tracked for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Chantix, varenicline tartrate, works in ways that previous smoking cessation drugs did not, and might lead to a higher success rate where the other drugs have failed. Chantix acts at the areas of the brain affected by nicotine and helps those who smoke cigarettes to quit smoking in two ways: by providing some nicotine effects to ease the withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if they start smoking again.
"Cigarette smoking is a very difficult habit to break due in large part to nicotine dependence or addiction," said Dr. Steven Galson, Director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Chantix therapy has proven to be effective in smokers motivated to quit and will provide another tool for physicians to use for the millions of smokers who want to quit."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 44.5 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes and more than 8.6 million of them have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. Chantix should be available later this year. I think the operative word here is motivated to quit smoking. Addiction is a complex physical, mental, emotional and spiritual problem. A magic pill to make the addiction go away would be nice. I am not so sure I believe in that kind of magic -- although I am relatively certain it will help some smokers quit smoking.
UPDATE: Chantix: quit smoking drug now available in US pharmacies.
21. I have tried to purchase Chantix, but pharmacies in y area(FL) do not have it yet. How can I purchase it online. Plz help.
Posted at 8:06AM on Aug 5th 2006 by maria cranmer