Smoking cessation drug due out soon

Abu Dhabi: A smoking-cessation drug, which received fast track approval from the US drug authority for its life-saving potential, is set for release this month to coincide with Ramadan.

Champix, or varenicline tartrate, makes its debut in the Middle East one year after the drug was approved for sale in the US market, according to drugmaker Pfizer.

A Pfizer-commissioned survey done in the UAE among 500 smokers found 63 per cent had decided to quit smoking and were actively seeking treatment to help them quit successfully. Around 12 per cent were smoke-free for the past six months and 25 per cent were thinking about quitting but had not taken a decision yet.

Dr Ahmad Al Hakim, Pfizer Middle East spokesperson, told Gulf News the drug would give a boost to those 63 per cent and any other smoker seeking to quit.

"Smoking is not only a habit like many people would think. It is a real addiction and the smokers need medical help to be able to successfully quit," he said, promising that varenicline tartrate would "multiply your willpower (to quit) by four."

The US-based Centres for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that the average smoker tries to quit six to nine times, without success.

The drug works on specific parts of the brain, by providing some of the satisfaction that nicotine gives, thus lessening withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Common side-effects reported included nausea, abnormal dreams and headache.

Dr Bassam Mahboub, incoming head of the national anti-tobacco committee, advised smokers against attempting to quit on their own.