Although anti-smoking pills are the most popular among those who quit a bad habit, there are today many other forms of drugs on the drug market in the country that help to quit smoking permanently. Which technique is most effective for the patient, the doctor decides on the basis of a comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination and the individual characteristics of the person. It is important to understand that all drugs work in different ways. Tablets are the largest and most effective group of anti-tobacco drugs.
The multivectoral harm of smoking
The danger of nicotine extends not only to heavy smokers, but also to those around them. This is passive smoking. Relatives and friends are forced to endure tobacco smoke, being next to a smoker. This is the risk of oncology, infertility, obstructive pulmonary diseases, pathological changes in the heart and blood vessels, kidneys.
Scientifically Proven Fact: Babies who like to raise have significant developmental delay, low intelligence, limited horizons. This is a consequence of the lack of oxygen. The blood does not receive the required amount of oxygen, which leads to the development of hypoxia. The neurons of the brain under such conditions are, as it were, under oppression, they cannot fully perform their functions.
The heart, pumping blood saturated with carbon dioxide, undergoes excessive stress through the hypotonic vessels. Against the background of atherosclerosis due to metabolic disorders and changes in blood viscosity, this becomes the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Furthermore, this situation applies equally to smokers and to those who have never taken a cigarette in their mouth.
Fans of tobacco smoke are at risk for vascular diseases of the lower limbs: intermittent claudication, varicose veins, obliterating endarteritis, diabetic foot, polyneuropathy.
But the nervous system suffers even more. Toxic damage to nerve cells, receptors, fibers leads to uncontrollable headaches, mood swings, unreasonable irritability, memory loss, loss of the ability to concentrate, concentration. The peripheral nerves cause the development of neuritis, the most famous of which is sciatica. Having arisen once, it does not leave the patient for life.
The lungs are the first to encounter tobacco smoke toxins. In addition, the attack on the structure of the bronchi and parenchyma of the organ comes from two sides: through the blood and locally, with direct irritation of the mucous membrane. There are tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, COPD. This causes persistent respiratory failure, emphysema, asthma, cancer.
The digestive system also comes into direct contact with the metabolites of nicotine and cigarette tar. They become triggers of erosive and ulcerative processes, hepatitis, gallstones and cirrhosis. The nightshade alkaloid takes the kidneys hostage. It is they who metabolize the poison, while destructive processes occur in the organ itself, sclerosis of the nephrons develops, chronic renal failure.
Libido in men and women, reproductive and erectile function suffers.
Appearance - repels others: gray, dry, scaly skin, brittle nails, sparse hair, yellow teeth and disgusting breath. Calcium is washed out of the bones, causing osteoporosis and pathological fractures.
Such a multifaceted effect of nicotine a priori requires a multifaceted approach to restoring the body after quitting smoking, presupposes multivector assistance in separation from tobacco. For this, pharmacologists offer smoking pills and other forms of multidirectional action.
How do nicotine pills work?
It must be said that traditional forms of drugs have recently changed, adapting to people's habits. Today we see a lot of para-tablets in pharmacies.
Noteworthy:
- Lollipop- representatives of replacement therapy. They contain a minimal dose of nicotine, which, when ingested, alleviates withdrawal symptoms caused by the cessation of the flow of tobacco in the blood and brain. That is, it helps not to feel unhappy when giving up cigarettes. An indisputable plus is the inclusion of herbal extracts in the composition of the product and the fact that they can be prepared independently, at home. Patients with diabetes should be treated with caution. A doctor's consultation on adjusting the dose of sugar-lowering drugs is required.
- Chewable tablets- regardless of the country of origin, they have the same anti-nicotine effect: they replace the absence of nicotine. They contain 2-4 mg of a medicinal substance and act similarly to lozenges. The main advantage and difference is that the alkaloid gradually enters the blood and brain as the product is chewed. Usually within half an hour, no less.
- Spray- This is the same liquid anti-tobacco drug. It is a quick aid when you want to hit a cigarette. It reaches the bloodstream and neurons in just one minute.
- Patch- a representative of the transdermal management in reducing the craving for pyridine poison. Maximum comfort to quit smoking. It enters the body through the skin, begins to act instantly, practically does not bind to albumin. It is metabolized and excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, it should be used with caution in patients with organ failure.
Today, pharmacologists offer anti-smoking injections. Essentially a vaccine against cigarettes. This is innovation. The principle of operation is to break the vicious circle. Once in the blood, the components of the solution provoke an immune response from the body. The antibodies produced by the defense system bind the pyridine alkaloid, forming a very large antigen-antibody complex. It is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from any harmful substances.
The center of happiness remains intact. It turns out that the person smokes, but there is no pleasure. The chain of addiction is broken and the patient abandons the cigarette.
However, against the background of all the innovations, drugs in the form of tablets remain the most in demand.
Groups of drugs for smoking
Modern pharmacology divides all drugs from tobacco addiction into several main groups:
- The first includes substances that contain chemical compounds that affect the body, such as a pyridine alkaloid. They activate cholinergic receptors such as nicotine, mimicking their presence. As a result, a person experiences the same feelings as a smoked cigarette. But tobacco toxins do not enter the bloodstream and neurons, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract does not burn. However, the patient still needs belladonna poison.
- The second directly affects the centers in the brain responsible for the desire to smoke. These are antidepressants.
- The third - the most interesting, blocks the mechanism of action of nicotine, killing the desire to drag a cigarette, since this process does not give any pleasure.
Anti-tobacco medicines
These are groups of all the most commonly used pill formulations for smoking today, with a mechanism of action and contraindications for use - a reliable assistant for all who decide to end a bad habit. It is necessary because tobacco lovers must understand: addiction is based on two pillars: physical and mental craving for nicotine.
So, some of these drugs help to say goodbye to physiological addiction, others - to psychological one.
Wrong selection can lead to complete failure. Experienced smokers are advised to pay attention to the first group of drugs, to beginners - to the third.
Nicotine analogues
The composition of these funds contains alkaloids in contact with cholinergic receptors.
The mechanism of action is the replacement of tobacco poison, an attempt to take over its functions. These drugs activate the same biochemical processes, sensations, but without negative consequences.
There is another nuance. The nerve endings are extremely sensitive. Any overdose causes many negative symptoms. Therefore, if their intake is accompanied by the use of cigarettes, tachycardia, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, fainting occur.
This "impresses" the organism so much that the idea of the danger of repetition is clearly fixed in the subcortex.
All drugs of this group have common contraindications:
- Carry a baby and breastfeed.
- PUD and duodenal ulcer, erosive processes in the intestine, pancreatitis.
- Atherosclerotic changes in the vessels and associated ischemia of the myocardium, brain, hypertension, encephalopathy, heart failure.
- Disorders of the blood clotting system.
- Obstructive diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.
Products containing nicotine
Tablets containing minimal doses of nicotine help patients gradually stop smoking permanently, reduce the dose of tobacco they use, or survive a forced temporary cessation. This is the same replacement therapy, but not with belladonna poison simulants, but on its own.
The therapeutic effect is due to the intake of a pyridine alkaloid in the body without harmful impurities and in small volumes. The dosage is gradually reduced. To the point that quitting smoking is easy and natural.
Contraindications to the use of drugs in this group are slightly different:
- Intolerance to belladonna alkaloid components on an individual basis.
- Up to 18 years.
- Period of pregnancy and lactation.
- Schizophrenia.
- Insufficiency of kidneys, liver, heart muscle, round ulcer.
Solanaceous alkaloid blockers
The essence of their action is to prevent the penetration of nicotine into the cholinergic receptors. The very meaning of smoking is lost in the absence of pleasure in it.
Herbal medicines are included in this group. They contain calamus and mint, which, with their acute taste sensations, cause aversion to bad habit, suppress the desire to smoke.
Products without alkaloids
They are parallel in their mechanism of action with the previous group, but do not block the contact of cholinergic receptors with nicotine, but interact directly with the centers of the brain responsible for pleasure, suppressing them. Smoking becomes a burden.
What is the reason for the different effect of drugs in this group on patients is not completely clear. The whole point is believed to be in the technical synthesis of varenicline by several manufacturers.
Side effects are quite frequent: headache, nausea, cramps in the epigastrium, sudden changes in blood pressure, sleeplessness and sleepiness at night, apathy during the day. Runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath leading to respiratory failure and pulmonary edema are common.
Antidepressants
These pills, unlike all other drugs, increase the activity of the brain centers, stimulating the production of happiness hormones and thus interrupting the effect of nicotine.
tranquilizers
Anxiety medications help the smoker get out of the stressful situation of quitting nicotine.
Drugs of this group are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women and for individual intolerance.
Homeopathy
Today it is generally accepted that homeopathic remedies act like a placebo. Even so, there are three new generations of effective medications that can reliably and safely relieve withdrawal from smoking.
The mechanism of action of these pills is to detoxify the body and remove the psychological attachment to tobacco.
There are several restrictions on use: intolerance to the components of the funds individually and the allergic mood of the body. Diabetics need to take them with caution, as glucose is one of the constituents. The regimen and dosage are determined by the doctor, without whose consultation treatment is impossible.
Each person can independently assess the degree of harmfulness and usefulness of smoking pills based on the main parameters, but does not give a single answer to the question of which remedy is best. This is due to the fact that there is currently no optimal anti-smoking drug that meets all the requirements. Advertising is the engine of progress. But the truth is dearer.