Nicotinic weaning: a new molecule

Nicotinic weaning: a new molecule

Belgium adds up each year 18.700 deaths due to diseases related to the nicotinism on a total of almost 105.000 annual deaths. A smoker on two dies of the continuations of a disease related to the tobacco. The arrival of a new drug for nicotinic weaning constitutes a new hope for the smokers.
A new molecule
A new molecule is as of now available in Belgium. It is about the varénicline, first representative of a new class of drugs called selective agonists partial of the receivers nicotinic of acetylcholine. Acting on the receivers nicotinic in the brain, it is characterized by a double mode of action. On the one hand, it decreases the need to smoke while reducing the other symptoms of nicotinic deprivation and, on the other hand, it can decrease the feeling of satisfaction related to the cigarette in the event of relapse of the smoker under treatment. In the clinical studies, the varénicline proved up to 4 times more effective than a placebo after 12 weeks of treatment.

The motivation has all its importance
However, the medicamentous assistance with it only cannot be enough to cease smoking, the essence remaining the motivation of the smoker and his implication in his project of suspension. The accompaniment by an health professional aims at offering to him the necessary support with its new lifestyle choice.
The varénicline is only available on medical regulation and is thus conceived like a true treatment of the nicotinism which places the smoker under medical monitoring. In the clinical studies undertaken with the varénicline, the patients receiving a 12 weeks cure (1 Mg, twice a day) had practically four times more chances to stop smoking compared to the people under placebo.
The cost of the treatment is equivalent to 3,2 euro per day for the treatment of maintenance. It remains lower than the average costs of a cigarette pack. The patient must fix a date to stop smoking. The administration of the varénicline must begin 1 to 2 weeks before this date and the duration of treatment recommended is 12 weeks. For the patients who succeeded in stopping smoking at the end of the 12 weeks, an additional cure of 12 weeks treatment can be considered.
This newcomer on the market of the suspension constitutes the first drug non-nicotinic specifically developed for the nicotinic suspension. It acts by specifically targeting the receivers nicotinic in the brain so as to potentially reduce the symptoms of need and lack and to decrease the pleasure associated with the tobacco.