Although smoking pills are the most popular among those who quit the habit, there are many other forms of drugs on the pharmacological market in the country today that help to quit smoking permanently. Which technique is most effective for the patient, the doctor decides on the basis of a complete clinical and laboratory examination and individual characteristics of the person. It is important to understand that all drugs work in different ways. Tablets are the most numerous and effective group of anti-smoking drugs.
The multi-vector harm of smoking
The danger of nicotine extends not only to heavy smokers, but also to the people around them. It's about passive smoking. Relatives and friends are forced to tolerate tobacco smoke by being next to a smoker. This is the risk of oncology, infertility, obstructive pulmonary disease, pathological changes in the heart and blood vessels, kidneys.
Scientifically proven fact: children who like to lift have a significant developmental delay, low intelligence, limited horizons. This is a consequence of oxygen starvation. The blood does not receive the required amount of oxygen, which leads to the development of hypoxia. The neurons of the brain in such conditions seem to be under oppression, unable to perform their functions fully.
The heart, pumping blood saturated with carbon dioxide, experiences excessive stress through the hypotonic vessels. Against the background of atherosclerosis as a result of metabolic disorders and changes in blood viscosity, this causes heart attacks and strokes.
In addition, this situation applies equally to smokers and those who have never taken a cigarette in their mouth.
Tobacco smoke lovers are at risk of vascular diseases of the lower extremities: intermittent claudication, varicose veins, obliterative endarteritis, diabetic foot, polyneuropathy.
But the nervous system still suffers the most. Toxic damage to nerve cells, receptors, fibers leads to uncontrollable headaches, mood swings, unreasonable irritability, memory loss, loss of ability to concentrate, concentration. Peripheral nerves provoke the development of neuritis, the most famous of which is sciatica. Once established, it does not leave the patient throughout his life.
The lungs are the first to encounter the toxins of tobacco smoke. 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 mucosa. There is 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, gallstone disease and cirrhosis. The nightingale alkaloid takes the kidneys hostage. It is they who metabolize the poison, while destructive processes take place in the organ itself, nephron sclerosis and chronic renal failure develop.
Libido in men and women, reproductive, erectile function suffers.
Appearance - repels others: gray, dry, flaky skin, brittle nails, sparse hair, yellow teeth and disgusting breath. Calcium is washed away from the bones, provokes osteoporosis and pathological fractures.
Such a multifaceted effect of nicotine a priori requires a multifaceted approach to the recovery of the body after quitting smoking, suggests multi-vector assistance in parting with tobacco. Therefore, pharmacologists offer smoking pills and other forms of multidirectional action.
How do nicotine paralyses work?
It must be said that recently traditional forms of drugs are changing, adapting to people's habits. Today we see a lot of para-tablets in pharmacies.
Remarkable:
- lollipops- representatives of replacement therapy. They contain a minimal dose of nicotine, which when ingested alleviates the withdrawal symptoms caused by stopping the flow of tobacco into the blood and brain. That is, it helps you not feel unhappy when you quit smoking. An indisputable advantage 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 should be consulted to adjust the dose of sugar-lowering drugs.
- Chewable tablets- regardless of the country of origin, they have the same antinicotine effect: they replace the lack of nicotine. They contain 2-4 mg of the active 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 tobacco medicine. It is an ambulance when you want to smoke a cigarette. Reaches blood flow and neurons in just a minute.
- Beginning- a representative of the transdermal direction to reduce appetite for pyridine poison. Maximum comfort for quitting 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 injections against smoking. Essentially a cigarette vaccine. This is an innovation. The principle of action is to break the vicious circle. Once in the blood, the components of the solution cause an immune response in the body. Antibodies produced by the defense system bind the pyridine alkaloid to form a very large antigen-antibody complex. It is unable to overcome 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 has no pleasure. The chain of addiction is broken and the patient leaves the cigarette.
However, against the background of all innovations, drugs in tablet form remain the most sought after.
Groups of smoking drugs
Modern pharmacology divides all drugs from tobacco dependence into several main groups:
- The first involves substances that contain chemicals that affect the body, such as a pyridine alkaloid. They activate cholinergic receptors such as nicotine, mimicking its presence. As a result, one experiences the same feelings as when smoking a cigarette. But tobacco toxins do not enter the bloodstream and neurons, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is not burned. However, the patient still needs venom from a night canopy.
- The second directly affects the centers of 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, as this process does not give any pleasure.
Anti-smoking drugs
These are groups of all the most commonly used smoking pills today, with a mechanism of action and contraindications for use - a reliable helper for anyone who decides to give up the bad habit. It is necessary because tobacco lovers need to understand: addiction stands on two pillars - the physical and mental desire for nicotine.
So, some of these drugs help to say goodbye to physiological dependence, others - to psychological.
The wrong choice can end in complete failure. Experienced smokers are advised to pay attention to the first group of drugs, beginners - to the third.
Nicotine analogues
The composition of these agents 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. Each 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 body so much that the idea of the danger of recurrence is clearly fixed in the subcortex.
All drugs in this group have common contraindications:
- Carrying a baby and breastfeeding.
- PUD and duodenal ulcer, erosive processes in the intestine, pancreatitis.
- Atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels and related ischemia of the myocardium, brain, hypertension, encephalopathy, heart failure.
- Disorders of the blood coagulation system.
- Obstructive diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.
Nicotine-containing products
Tablets containing minimal doses of nicotine help patients to gradually quit smoking permanently, reduce the dose of tobacco they use, or experience forced temporary smoking cessation. This is the same replacement therapy, but not with night poison simulants, but alone.
The therapeutic effect is due to the entry into the body of a pyridine alkaloid without harmful impurities and in small volumes. The dose is gradually reduced. To the extent that quitting smoking is easy and natural.
Contraindications to the use of drugs from this group are slightly different:
- Individual intolerance to the components of the alkaloid of nightgown.
- Up to 18 years.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- schizophrenia.
- Kidney, liver, heart muscle failure, peptic ulcer.
Saline alkaloid blockers
The essence of their action is to prevent the penetration of nicotine to cholinergic receptors. The very meaning of smoking is lost in the absence of pleasure from it.
Herbal medicines are included in this group. They contain calamus and mint, which with their sharp taste sensations cause aversion to the 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 brain centers responsible for pleasure, suppressing them. Smoking becomes a burden.
What is the reason for the different effects of drugs from this group on patients is not entirely clear. It is believed that the whole point is in the technical synthesis of varenicline from different manufacturers.
Side effects are quite common: headache, nausea, cramps in the epigastrium, jumps in blood pressure, insomnia at night and drowsiness, apathy during the day. Rhinorrhea, 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 brain centers, stimulating the production of hormones of happiness and thus interrupt the action of nicotine.
Tranquilizers
Anxiety medications help the smoker get out of the stressful situation of quitting nicotine.
Drugs from this group are contraindicated for expectant and nursing mothers and for individual intolerance.
Homeopathy
Today, it is generally accepted that homeopathic remedies act as a placebo. However, there are three new generations of effective drugs that can reliably and safely alleviate smoking cessation.
The mechanism of action of these pills is to detoxify the body and eliminate the psychological attachment to tobacco.
There are several restrictions on use: intolerance to the components of the funds individually and allergic mood of the body. Diabetics should take them with caution, as glucose is one of the ingredients. The regimen and dosage are determined by the doctor, without whose consultation the treatment is impossible.
Each person can independently assess the degree of harmfulness and usefulness of smoking pills according to the basic parameters, but does not give an unambiguous answer to the question of which drug is the 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 more expensive.