Patches, gum, lozenges, acupuncture, hypnosis, artificial cigarettes, medication and cold turkey — with so many options to help you quit smoking, it's hard to know what works and what doesn't.
And now there's something new on the market to add to the mix. The FDA has approved Chantix, made by Pfizer, which is the first medication approved to help smokers quit in nearly 10 years.
Chantix was fast-tracked by the FDA because it was shown to be more effective than anything else available.
It works by both acting a little like nicotine in the brain and, at the same time, blocking the effects of nicotine when you smoke. By acting like nicotine, Chantix minimizes withdrawal symptoms. By blocking the effects of nicotine in the brain when you smoke, it limits the pleasure derived from smoking.
This approach differs from the current quit-smoking aids.
Nicotine is the addictive (but not the harmful) substance in tobacco. Withdrawal from nicotine causes the uncomfortable and often distressing symptoms of irritability, insomnia, poor concentration and upset stomach.
The patch, gum and lozenges work by providing nicotine to the body in safe form. The smoker basically maintains his or her nicotine addiction while quitting smoking. Nicotine nasal spray and inhaler, available by prescription, do the same thing.
For some smokers, nicotine replacement works because tobacco is both physically and psychologically addicting. Nicotine substitutes help offset physical withdrawal while the smoker concentrates on the psychological withdrawal — giving up the habit, not the addiction.
Other quit-smoking aids work to reduce cravings without providing the nicotine — hypnosis and acupuncture have proven effective for some. Zyban, also sold as Wellbutrin, is a prescription medication that also helps reduce the cravings.
Unlike Zyban, Chantix acts like nicotine on the brain as a means of reducing cravings. Studies on Chantix found that up to 50 percent of smokers stayed smoke-free after 12 weeks of medication. Results improved even more after 24 weeks of therapy.
By contrast, there was only a 30 percent quit rate for those on Zyban. Those taking a placebo saw a 17 percent quit rate.
Studies also showed that patients are able to stop taking Chantix without difficulty. The most common side effect is mild nausea, which usually improves after one to two weeks of therapy.
Chantix also comes with a yearlong support program that is essential for some smokers to remaining smoke free. The program is done online or by phone. More information can be found at www.chantix.com.
Chantix is covered by some insurance plans. However, even when it's not covered, the cost of $4 per day is lower than a pack-a-day habit.
Every smoker is different, and which method is best differs from person to person. When planning to quit, your physician can be helpful planning the right strategy for you. If one method does not work, try another. If the patche doesn't work, try the gum. If Zyban doesn't work, try the patch. Your doctor may recommend combining different therapies.
Quitting smoking is one of the greatest challenges you will ever face. It is often fraught with multiple attempts and relapses. The key is not to be able to quit the first time you try, but to keep trying.
If you feel you have tried everything and failed, Chantix is now available. This might just be the one that does it for you. The key to is to keep trying.
