Although anti-smoking pills are the most popular among those who quit a bad habit, today there are many other forms of drugs on the pharmacological market nationwide that help to quit smoking for good. 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 medicines work in different ways. Tablets are the most numerous and effective group of anti-smoking drugs.
The multi-sectoral harms of smoking
The danger of nicotine extends not only to heavy smokers, but also to those around them. It is second-hand smoke. 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: Children who love to lift have severe developmental delay, low intelligence, limited horizons. It is a consequence of oxygen deprivation. The blood does not receive the required amount of oxygen, which leads to the development of hypoxia. Neurons in the brain under such conditions are, so to speak, under oppression, cannot fully perform their functions.
The heart, pumping blood saturated with carbon dioxide, is under excessive stress through the hypotonic vessels. Against the background of atherosclerosis resulting from metabolic disorders and changes in blood viscosity, it becomes the cause of heart attacks and strokes.
In addition, this situation applies to smokers as well as to those who have never taken a cigarette in their mouth.
The followers of tobacco smoke are at risk of vascular diseases of the lower limbs: intermittent claudication, varicose veins, obliterating endarteritis, diabetic foot, polyneuropathy.
But it is still the nervous system that suffers the most. Toxic damage to nerve cells, receptors and fibers leads to uncontrollable headaches, mood swings, unreasonable irritability, memory loss, loss of the ability to concentrate, concentrate. Peripheral nerves cause the development of neuritis, the most famous of which is sciatica. Having arisen once, it does not leave the patient all his life.
The lungs are the first to encounter toxins from tobacco smoke. In addition, damage to 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 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, 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, chronic renal failure develop.
Libido in men and women, reproductive and erectile function suffers.
Appearance - repels others: gray, dry, scaly skin, brittle nails, thinning hair, yellow teeth and disgusting breath. Calcium is eliminated from the bones, causing osteoporosis and pathological fractures.
Such a multifaceted effect of nicotine requires a priori a multidimensional approach to the restoration of the body after stopping smoking, supposes a multi-vector assistance to separate from tobacco. For this, pharmacologists offer pills for smoking and other forms of multidirectional action.
How do nicotine parapills work?
It must be said that recently, traditional forms of drugs have changed, adapting to people's habits. Today, we see a lot of para-tablets in pharmacies.
Remarkable:
- Lollipops- representatives of substitution therapy. They contain a minimum dose of nicotine which, when ingested, alleviates the withdrawal symptoms caused by stopping the flow of tobacco in the blood and brain. That is, it helps not to feel miserable when it comes to quitting smoking. An undoubted advantage is the inclusion of plant 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 medical consultation to adjust the dose of hypoglycemic drugs is required.
- Chewable tablet- whatever 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 work in the same way as 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- It's the same liquid anti-tobacco. It is a quick way to help when you want to take a puff of a cigarette. Reaches blood flow and neurons in one minute.
- Room- a representative of the transdermal leadership in reducing cravings 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. Basically a cigarette vaccine. It is innovation. The principle of operation is to break the vicious circle. Once in the blood, the components of the solution trigger an immune response from the body. The antibodies produced by the defense system bind to the pyridine alkaloid, forming a very large antigen-antibody complex. He is unable to overcome the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from all harmful substances.
The center of happiness remains intact. It turns out that the person is smoking, but there is no pleasure. The chain of addiction breaks and the patient quits smoking.
However, against the background of all innovations, drugs in the form of tablets remain the most in demand.
Drug groups for smoking
Modern pharmacology divides all drugs for tobacco addiction into several main groups:
- The former includes substances that contain chemical compounds that affect the body, such as a pyridine alkaloid. They activate cholinergic receptors like nicotine, mimicking its presence. As a result, a person experiences the same feelings as with a smoked cigarette. But the toxins from tobacco do not enter the bloodstream and neurons, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract does not get burned. However, the patient still needs nightshade poison.
- The second directly affects the brain centers responsible for the desire to smoke. They 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 bring any pleasure.
Anti-smoking drugs
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 helper for anyone who decides to end a bad habit. This is necessary because tobacco lovers need to understand: addiction rests on two pillars - physical and mental craving for nicotine.
So, some of these drugs help to say goodbye to physiological addiction, others to psychological addiction.
A bad selection can result in complete failure. Experienced smokers are advised to pay attention to the first group of drugs, beginners - the third.
Nicotine analogues
The composition of these funds contains alkaloids in contact with cholinergic receptors.
The mechanism of action is the replacement of the tobacco poison, an attempt to resume its functions. These drugs activate the same biochemical processes, sensations, but without negative consequences.
There is one more nuance. Nerve endings are extremely sensitive. Any overdose causes many negative symptoms. Therefore, if their consumption is accompanied by the use of cigarettes, tachycardia, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, fainting occurs.
This "impresses" the organism so much that the idea of the danger of repetition 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 of vessels and associated ischemia of the myocardium, brain, hypertension, encephalopathy, heart failure.
- Disorders of the blood coagulation system.
- Obstructive diseases of the bronchopulmonary system.
Products containing nicotine
Tablets with minimal doses of nicotine help patients to gradually quit smoking permanently, reduce the amount of tobacco they use, or survive a forced temporary quit. It's the same substitution therapy, but not with nightshade poison simulants, but by itself.
The therapeutic effect is due to the supply of a pyridine alkaloid into the body without harmful impurities and in small volumes. The dosage is gradually reduced. To the point where quitting smoking is easy and natural.
Contraindications to the use of drugs in this group are somewhat different:
- Intolerance to the components of the nightshade alkaloid on an individual basis.
- Up to 18 years old.
- Period of pregnancy and lactation.
- Schizophrenia.
- Failure of the kidneys, liver, heart muscle, peptic ulcer.
Solanaceous 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 in 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 directly interact with the centers of the brain responsible for pleasure, suppressing them. Smoking becomes a burden.
The reason for the different effect of drugs in this group on patients is not entirely clear. It is believed that all the interest lies in the technical synthesis of varenicline by different manufacturers.
Side effects are quite common: headaches, nausea, cramps in the epigastrium, surges in blood pressure, sleeplessness at night and drowsiness, listlessness by 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 happiness hormones and thereby interrupting the effect of nicotine.
Tranquilizers
Anti-anxiety medications help the smoker to 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. Despite this, there are three new generations of effective drugs that can reliably and safely relieve smoking cessation.
The mechanism of action of these pills is to detoxify the body and suppress 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 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 anti-smoking pills based on the main parameters, but he does not give an unambiguous answer to the question of which remedy is the best. This is because there is currently no optimal anti-smoking drug that would meet all the requirements. Advertising is the engine of progress. But the truth is more expensive.