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Revolutionary Drug Gives Smokers New Hope By James H. O'Keefe, M.D. "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." Catherine Aird Ben is the kind of guy who doesn't complain much, and so when he awoke one morning in a cold sweat with a pressure-like burning chest discomfort he just toughed it out. Unfortunately it wasn't indigestion that he was ignoring but instead a large heart attack; and by the time he finally sought medical attention 24 hours later, his heart was badly damaged. Ben was lucky to survive that event, and now four years later at 49 years of age he is faithful about taking his medications, eating right, and making time for a daily walk. He also has a state-of-the-art pacemaker called a bi-ventricular ICD that monitors his heart's every beat, and automatically corrects any dangerous rhythms. This life-saving device also simultaneously paces both sides of his heart, re-coordinating the muscular contractions and strengthening the cardiac pump's function. Things were looking up for Ben except for one dark cloud looming on the horizon-he was still smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. He had tried everything: going cold turkey, nicotine gum and patches, Zyban, and even hypnosis. Still, he could not seem to overcome tobacco's death grip that was threatening to choke the life out of him. Then about six months ago I prescribed a revolutionary new drug for Ben called Chantix (varenicline). It works by blocking the nicotine receptors in the brain. As long as this drug is in the bloodstream, it prevents the cravings and irritability that make the tobacco habit one of the most difficult of all addictions to conquer. About one week after starting Chantix, Ben noticed that the cigarettes ceased to be a source of pleasure; in fact they even stopped tasting good to him. Gradually ,he lost interest in smoking, and Ben finally ditched the nasty cigarettes once and for all after about six weeks of Chantix. Scientific studies show that Chantix is at least twice as effective as any prior smoking cessation therapy. In my experience, about three out of every four smokers who give it a fair try are able to successfully quit smoking. The main side effect is an upset stomach that tends to ease off after the first week. A day's worth of Chantix (two pills) costs about as much as a pack of cigarettes-which from my vantage point seems like a very smart trade off. Chantix should be continued for at least three months, and probably six to be sure that the smoker doesn't relapse. Even with all of our modern weapons against disease, it is very difficult to keep someone healthy if they continue to smoke. Regardless of your age, smoking doubles your chance of dying over the next year compared to a non-smoker of similar age. Permanently kicking the smoking habit has the power to improve your long-term health and longevity like nothing else you or your doctor can do for you. This is why Chantix is such a revolutionary drug; it will give you, or a smoker you care about, the power to triumph over tobacco forever, so that like Ben, you can look forward to a blue-sky future. |
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