New ‘game changer’ stop smoking pill to be given to thousands on NHS
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A daily medication aimed at assisting individuals in quitting smoking is set to be introduced through the NHS, with specialists optimistic that it could save thousands of lives each year from smoking-related illnesses.
Known as varenicline, this medication helps reduce cravings for nicotine and also addresses withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and sleep disturbances.
Amanda Pritchard, the CEO of NHS England, referred to the medication as a "revolutionary breakthrough" while announcing that it will be made available through the health service.
At the NHS Annual Conference and Exhibition in Liverpool, Ms. Pritchard is expected to state, "This easy-to-take daily tablet could be revolutionary for individuals aiming to stop smoking and represents an important advancement in moving our NHS towards a stronger focus on prevention."
Smoking continues to be one of the most significant health challenges for the NHS, causing serious harm to the body. It affects various organs, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and brain, and raises the likelihood of developing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and stroke.
NHS England states that when the pill is combined with behavioral support, it can assist roughly 25% of individuals in quitting smoking for a minimum of six months.
Authorities believe this could assist over 85,000 individuals in quitting smoking each year for the next five years and could also avert as many as 9,500 deaths linked to smoking.
Produced by Teva UK, the tablet is a generic alternative to the brand-name medication Champix, which was taken off the market in 2021 after a possibly cancer-causing contaminant was discovered in its formulation.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has confirmed that the updated version of varenicline is safe for use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that some possible side effects can include feelings of nausea or vomiting when taking the full dose, trouble sleeping, constipation or gas, and occasional mood or behavior changes, though the latter is uncommon.
Another medication known as cytisine is under review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This drug mimics the effects of smoking by binding to the same brain receptors that nicotine targets, tricking the brain into believing it has received nicotine.
Dr. Ian Walker, who is the executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, mentioned, "In addition to financing programs to help people quit, providing resources like this will assist more individuals in giving up smoking."
Every day in the UK, approximately 160 cancer cases are linked to tobacco use. This highlights the urgent need for measures to stop people from starting to smoke in the first place.
