World No Tobacco Day 2016

31 May is World No Tobacco Day. It is organized by the World Health Organization to draw attention to the health risks associated with the use of tobacco and what can still be done to reduce tobacco consumption around the world.Here we focus on a Cochrane Review of a medical intervention - nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation - and what the available evidence tells us about its effectiveness. Cochrane Review provides more support for medication as long-term aid to quitting smokingWhen people stop smoking, they experience cravings to smoke and unpleasant mood changes. Nicotine receptor partial agonists aim to reduce these withdrawal symptoms and the pleasure people usually experience when they smoke. The most widely available treatment in this drug type is varenicline, which is available worldwide as an aid for quitting smoking. Cytisine is a similar medication, but is only available in Central and Eastern European countries, and through internet sales.A team of Cochrane authors based in the UK, working with the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group, updated their review of the efficacy of nicotine receptor partial agonists, including varenicline and cytisine, for smoking cessation. Findings take from 44 studies, which include 25,200 people.Varenicline at standard dose more than doubled the chances of quitting compared with placebo. Low-dose varenicline roughly doubled the chances of quitting, and reduced the number and severity of side effects associated with u...

Source: Cochrane News and Events - May 31, 2016 Category: Information Technology Authors: mumoquit at cochrane.org Source Type: news