NHS Introduces Improved Stop Smoking Pill to Help Thousands Quit
The NHS in England is set to offer an “improved” stop smoking medication called Varenicline, a daily tablet designed to help tens of thousands of people quit smoking. This prescription-only medicine is considered as effective as vapes and more successful than traditional nicotine replacement methods like gum or patches.
Varenicline works by reducing nicotine cravings and blocking its effects on the brain, while also alleviating withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and sleep difficulties. When combined with behavioral support like counseling, the drug has been shown to help approximately one in four people stop smoking for at least six months.
According to NHS England, this could potentially help over 85,000 people quit smoking annually and prevent around 9,500 smoking-related deaths over the next five years. The medication was previously available under the brand name Champix but was withdrawn due to impurities. The new version has been approved as safe.
The current smoking landscape in the UK is significant, with around one in eight adults (six million people) being smokers. Last year, there were more than 400,000 hospital admissions in England linked to smoking. The NHS currently spends approximately £2.5 billion annually treating smoking-related health issues.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the potential benefits, stating that the pill could save the NHS millions of pounds, reduce appointment waiting times, and ultimately save lives.
In addition to Varenicline, e-cigarettes will “sometimes” be offered by local NHS stop smoking services, typically as a two-week starter kit. However, since e-cigarettes are not licensed as medicines, GP prescription is limited. Guidelines recommend trying licensed stop smoking medicines first, though vaping is recognized as a smoking cessation aid.
Experts emphasize the importance of comprehensive support. Hazel Cheeseman from Action on Smoking and Health noted that while improving access to Varenicline is positive, a drug alone cannot transform smoking rates. Support services are crucial in helping smokers quit.
Prof Nick Hopkinson from Imperial College London described Varenicline as the “most effective smoking cessation medication” and stressed that quitting smoking is the best way to improve personal and family health. He recommends a combination of counseling support and medication for the most successful quit attempts.
People interested in quitting can access help through the NHS Smokefree website and should consult their healthcare provider about Varenicline, especially if previous quit attempts using nicotine patches or gum were unsuccessful.
While vaping is considered significantly less harmful than smoking, health experts caution that it is not entirely risk-free and should only be used as a smoking cessation tool.
The NHS’s new approach aims to provide more accessible and effective support for those looking to quit smoking, potentially improving public health outcomes and reducing the significant healthcare burden associated with smoking.
