The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug that can help people quit smoking. The drug, called Chantix™ (varenicline tartrate), has been found in research studies to ease the withdrawal effects often experienced by smokers when they try to quit.
According to the FDA, Chantix has been studied in six clinical trials that included more than 3,500 participants, all of whom were chronic smokers. In five of the six trials, Chantix was shown to be better than placebo according to the FDA. In two of the five studies, 44 percent of people taking Chantix were able to quit smoking within a 12-week time period compared with only 17 percent of people who were taking a placebo. At the end of one year, 22 percent of people who had taken Chantix and 10 percent of people who took placebo were still smoke-free.
Chantix is a pill that is taken once a day after eating and with a full glass of water. Chantix is generally taken for 12 weeks but may be taken for an additional 12 weeks after a person stops smoking in order to increase the person's chances of remaining smoke-free. Side effects that have been reported include nausea, constipation, gas, vomiting, and changes in dreaming patterns.
Why Is It Hard to Quit?
The Massachusetts Department of Health issued a report this week pointing to evidence that the amount of nicotine in cigarettes has increased by as much as 10 percent over the past six years. This increase in nicotine might be making it even more difficult for the 45 million U.S. adults who smoke to quit.
If quitting smoking is your goal – and it would be a good goal since smoking can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and cancer – talk with your doctor about how to quit. Ask if there are supportive aids, such as medicines, support groups, or counseling, that would be appropriate to help you during the quitting process. |
