How the NHS’ anti-smoking pills work
The NHS is set to roll out an anti-smoking pill in England to help stop people smoking as a more effective alternative to nicotine-replacement gum or patches.
Tens of thousands of smokers will be offered this new pill through the NHS as an alternative method to quit the addictive habit, as part of their NHS Stop Smoking Services after the smoking ban has been announced.
NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard described smoking as "one of the biggest public health issues facing the NHS" as one in eight adults in the UK smoke and it remains one of the leading causes of lung cancer, heart conditions, strokes and dementia.
Every year, the NHS spends an estimated £2.5 billion on treating smoking health-related conditions and there is hope that the new drug will not only save lives, but cut costs for hospitals and tax payers too.
Quitting smoking can reduce the health risks associated with smoking within as little as six weeks. The University College London estimates that Varenicline, this innovative new pill, could help prevent over 9,500 smoking-related deaths in the next five years.
How does the NHS anti-smoking pill work?
Varenicline is a pill that has to be taken daily to help you stop smoking. It helps to reduce nicotine cravings and the urge to smoke again by stimulating the receptor in your brain that nicotine normally would. It blocks those receptors so nicotine can't bind to them, according to Lloyds Pharmacy.
Alongside this, the drug also helps diffuse common withdrawal symptoms of nicotine such as feeling irritable, depressed or struggling to sleep.
It’s been found to be more effective that nicotine replacements such as gums or patches, and a better alternative to a vape - though these are sometimes recommended in the early stages too.
In contrast to nicotine gums and patches, Varenicline does not contain nicotine it simply mimics the effects that the drug has on the brain.
This NHS found that when the anti-smoking pill was taken alongside a form of counselling or behavioural support, the treatment helped one in four people to stop smoking for at least six months.
It’s a prescription-only drug, which was previously released in the US under the name Champix. Though it was never available in the UK or Europe, this version of the pill was withdrawn in 2021 as a precaution due to an impurity.
Read more about smoking:
What we know about the smoking ban (Yahoo News UK, 5-min read)
The mental health benefits of quitting smoking: Experts urge parents to stop cigarettes (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Anti-smoking pill to be rolled out for 100,000 on NHS (The Telegraph, 4-min read)
