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The NHS is introducing an “improved” form of the stop smoking pill, Varenicline, to tens of thousands of people in England who are looking to end their cigarette addiction. It is effective in reducing cravings and more so than nicotine replacement gum or patches. Varenicline was once offered to NHS customers under the Champix brand name but was withdrawn when impurities were found. However, the new form is now approved as safe and will be available by prescription only. Patients must visit their GP or an NHS stop smoking service to obtain the pill.
When used over several months with behavioural support, such as psychotherapy, around one in four people have successfully quit smoking for at least six months. According to the NHS, the pills could help over 85,000 people stop smoking every year, preventing around 9,500 people from smoking-related deaths over the next five years, according to research by University College London. Vaping will, at times, be offered by the NHS smoking service, often in a starter kit lasting approximately two weeks.
If there isn’t a locally agreed NHS scheme in place, GPs are presently not allowed to prescribe vapes as they are not licensed as medicines. There are a few local authorities that offer vapes to people searching for ways to quit smoking. However, the guidelines suggest using approved stop smoking medicines before trying vapes as a recognized smoking cessation aid. Although vaping is less harmful than smoking, health experts insist that people should only vape as a way of stopping smoking and not for any other reason.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death, and around 6 million individuals in the UK are smokers. Smoking-related diseases caused more than 400,000 hospital admissions last year. The NHS spends £2.5 billion every year on treating health problems caused by smoking. “The rollout of this pill can save the NHS millions of pounds, save appointments to help other patients be seen faster and save lives,” Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, declared.
Action on Smoking and Health’s Chief Executive, Hazel Cheeseman, stated that access to smoking support services is inconsistent. She maintained that people should be able to access the most effective forms of treatment to stop smoking, where they live, but that medication alone will not change smoking behaviour. In addition to prescribing these drugs, services are also required. Prof Nick Hopkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, described varenicline as the “most effective smoking cessation medication”. Successful quitting is more likely if people receive a combination of counselling support and medication to help ease anxiety and reduce tobacco dependence.
People can obtain assistance online at NHS Smokefree, as well as through smoking cessation clinics. They should also ask their healthcare provider about varenicline if they have been unsuccessful in quitting their smoking habit using other medications such as gum or nicotine patches
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