Health and Medicines

Quit smoking with pills

The pleasure derived from smoking has nothing to do with the tobacco in the cigarette. It is actually the chemical nicotine, which binds to neuro receptors in the brain, causing them to release dopamine which gives pleasure to the body. But as the price of this pleasure, the body and brain become addicted to nicotine, leading to more and more smoking, until the tobacco fumes have eaten away the smoker's lungs and throat.


Nicotine patches and nicotine-replacement products (chewing gums, lozenges, inhalers) are methods to help people give up this dangerous habit. But in 2006 the FDA approved a pill named Chantix, from the company Pfizer, which is a nicotine-free anti-smoking drug.

And now this anti-smoking drug will be available in India. Pfizer India will be launching the anti-smoking drug under the name Champix, but in only 17 cities to begin with. The complete package of the drug will cover a 12-week treatment program and will be priced somewhere around Rs 9,500.


Although there are some reports that suggest side-effects from the use of Chantix in other countries; however these side-effects are so diverse (ranging from psychiatric porblems, joint muscular pain, anxiety, etc.) that it isn't correct to attribute them only to taking the anti-smoking drug.