Chantix

Smoking Cessation

Smoking related diseases are among the biggest causes of death in the world today. An estimated 100,000 people die every year in the United States because of smoking. Many people consider just the financial benefits when thinking of quitting smoking, however the advantages offered to your health for giving up are equally, if not, more important.

Thankfully, smoking is now classed as a medical condition. However, many smokers still try to give up without seeking any medical advice. There are several treatment options and support groups available that all increase the likelihood of giving up for good. Stopping smoking offers a great number of benefits to your health. In the table below we've outlined the benefits you can experience once you’ve given up and when they will occur.

Smoking cessation time period

  • 20 minutes
  • 8 hours
  •  
  • 24 hours
  •  
  •  
  • 2 - 12 weeks
  • 3 - 9 months

  • 5 years
  • 10 years

Smoking Cessation Benefits

  • Pulse rate and blood pressure return to a normal level.
  • Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the body are reduced by 50%. In the same time, Oxygen levels completely return to normal.
  • Carbon monoxide is completely removed from the body and nicotine levels are 50% less than 1 day ago. The lungs now start to remove mucus that has accumulated.
  • Circulation improves
  • Lung function improves by <10%; coughing and wheezing decreases
  • Risk of heart attack is halved
  • Risk of lung cancer is half as compared to continued smoking; risk of heart attack equal to non-smoker
As you can see from the table above, there are several significant reasons to give up smoking. People often believe that if they have smoked for too long or are simply too old, they will not see any benefit from quitting smoking. This is not true. The benefits of quitting smoking can start to take effect within 20 minutes and the chance of severe cardiovascular problems can return to the average level of a non-smoker.

Smoking cessation treatment options

NRT - Until recently, the most popular smoking cessation treatment was nicotine replacement therapy. It comes in a variety of forms including sprays, inhalers, lozenges, gums and patches. However, the method of delivery differs for each. All treatments are available over the counter and success rates have been quoted between 5-10% for most people, significantly higher than using will power alone.

Zyban - This smoking cessation medication is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline and contains the active ingredient bupropion. Zyban works by stimulating the brain chemicals that usually result in an addiction to nicotine. However, some people who have taken this drug have experienced serious side effects. One such side effect of this treatment is seizures which can sometimes be fatal. Many people also experience suicidal thoughts after taking Zyban. Whether these problems are entirely attributed to Zyban has not yet been established.

Chantix - Chantix is a non-nicotine based drug for smoking cessation. It works in a similar way to Zyban, targeting the receptors in the brain that are usually targeted by nicotine. By keeping these receptors stimulated, the body does not suffer from the usual withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability and depression. This advanced method of stopping smoking provides unrivalled success rates, with clinical trials showing 44% of Chantix users quitting first time.

Overview of all smoking cessation treatments

  • A 12-week course of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation helps 5-10% of smokers quit. There is no data available if one form of NRT is more effective than another.
  • Non-medicinal smoking cessation treatments such as counselling and hypnosis help 5% of smokers quit. This is defined as those attempting to give up via cold turkey or using nothing but will power.
  • Chantix is successful for 44% of those attempting to quit smoking. Its nearest rival, Zyban, is only half as successful.