Other Methods
The Pills
Chantix & Zyban
Chantix and Zyban are two of the most prescribed medications for smokers. In a study, Dr. Mitchell Nides randomly assigned 626 people to Chantix, Zyban, or a placebo. The “success” rates and relapse rates were documented as follows:
| 12 WEEKS |
%Not Smoking(Success) |
% Smoking (Relapse) |
| Chantix |
38.8% |
61.2% |
| Zyban |
19.8% |
80.2% |
| 52 WEEKS |
%Not Smoking(Success) |
% Smoking (Relapse) |
| Chantix |
14.4% |
85.6% |
| Zyban |
6.3% |
93.7% |
The “success” rate, or lack thereof is less than motivating, but those are statistics from a study group and study protocols. What is the difference from a clinical trial and a “real world” smoker simply being prescribed a medication? Should you expect to achieve the same “success” rate as participants in a clinical trial? Pfizer (maker of Chantix) spared no expense in creating one of the most intense clinic quitting experiences in any smoking cessation study ever.
Participants received the following:
- Free Chantix medication
- Reimbursed Travel expenses
- 16 Clinic visits (Free)
- One-on-one sessions with counselors
trained in motivation and coping skills development (Free)
- 8 Follow up support phone calls
from their Physician (Free)
- 2 Full physical exams (Free)
- Multiple Surveys
- 7 Urine and Blood Checks (Free)
- EKG’s – if required (Free)
- 16 Carbon Monoxide breath tests (Free)
With all the massive follow-up and counseling, it is amazing that the results aren’t much better! We know the success rate, so now take a look at a partial list of the side effects of Chantix and the % which they occur in patients.
| SYMPTOM |
CHANTIX 1mg. |
| NAUSEA |
30% |
| INSOMNIA |
18% |
| HEADACHE |
15% |
| ABNORMAL DREAMS |
13% |
| CONSTIPATION |
8% |
| FATIGUE |
7% |
| ABDOMINAL PAIN |
7% |
| FLATULANCE |
6% |
| VOMITING |
5% |
The Shots
There are only a few physicians who prescribe a combination of different injectable medications in an attempt to help smokers quit. This is likely due to the fact that the drugs are not
approved for smoking cessation by the FDA even though this treatment has been used by some doctors for nearly 25 years.
The Wall Street Journal [12/28/04] reported that many addiction experts say the treatments are unproven and can cause serious side effects. There's little solid research on the long-term effectiveness of the injections. The only published study, which dates to 1986 and didn't include a comparison group, found about 40% of people who received shots weren't smoking after a year or in other words at least a 60% failure rate.
The “newer” version of the shot consists of Scopolamine (which is the ingredient of the sea sickness patch) and Hydroxyzine (which is an antihistamine like Benadryl) followed by another week of Scopolamine (oral and or transdermal). There are NO published clinical trials or studies of this protocol. The American College of Chest Physicians in 2004 report on this stated: CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This method of smoking cessation deserves further investigation with a well designed, controlled clinical trial.
The data that is published and easy to find is on the many side effects. A partial list follows:
- Agitation, Nervousness, Confusion
- Blurred Vision
- Dizziness, Drowsiness
- Hallucinations
- Pain or Difficulty passing urine
- Skin Rash, Itching
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Fast Heartbeat
- Tremors or Restlessness
- Constipation
Medications (Pills & Shots) simply have too many side effects for the low success rate they provide.
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