Smoking habit is very difficult to stop. Chantix and Zyban are the two drugs which can help in quitting smoking. It also helps in increasing the rate of smoking cessation and reduces nicotine cravings experienced by smokers when they give up smoking.
If you are looking for
weapons in your arsenal to help you stop smoking then there are two
revolutionary prescription medications that are known to be doing the
rounds; namely Zyban and Champix. Bupropion, the active ingredient in
Zyban, is a prescription medication that facilitates smoking
cessation. It works by combating and reducing the cravings
associated with nicotine withdrawal, when one gives up smoking. While
varenicline, the active ingredient in Champix, works by reducing the
pleasure associated with smoking. Manufactured by Pfizer, Champix is
reputed to be more successful than Zyban when it comes to smoking
cessation.
Zyban vs.
Champix
Both are prescription medications that have been approved by the
FDA for the treatment of nicotine addiction. When it comes to
approval, there is very little to choose between the two. The birth
of Zyban was not as a smoking cessation drug; it was primarily
developed as an anti-depressant. During its clinical trials, Zyban
was noted to bring about a reduction in the need to smoke amongst
smokers who participated in these trials. Over time this beneficial
effect has been well documented, but researchers are still not sure
as to how Zyban actually works. The problem with Zyban is that there
are a few psychological side effects associated with the intake of
this medication.
Champix, on the other hand, originated as a
drug that was specifically developed to help people curb their
smoking habit. Champix works at two levels. Firstly, it reduces the
nicotine cravings experienced by smokers when they give up smoking.
Secondly, Champix does not allow the nicotine to reach the pleasure
receptors in the brain. When nicotine reaches the pleasure receptors
in the brain, it acts on them inducing a feeling of pleasure. This is
why people get addicted to smoking. However, with Champix, smokers do
not get the same amount of pleasure that they earlier did. As a
result, Champix helps them leave smoking easily. The fact that it
works at two levels means that it takes away both the temptation and
the pleasure associated with smoking.
Who’s the
winner?
There is no hand’s down winner amongst the two –
both Zyban and Champix – as both have their salient features.
However, there is no doubt that Champix offers a two-fold benefit to
its user. The abandonment rate of this medication is also lower than
that of Zyban. While the success rate associated with Champix is seen
to be higher than that of Zyban.
