nicotine replacement therapy

Occasional smoking, often dismissed as harmless, is leading to devastating diagnoses of advanced lung cancer and severe lung damage. Doctors are increasingly seeing cases where individuals who smoked fewer than five cigarettes daily, or were exposed to secondhand smoke, develop irreversible lung disease. This highlights the critical need for early action and complete tobacco cessation.

Smoking is now linked to rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease causing joint pain and damage. Chemicals in cigarettes trigger inflammation and weaken the immune system, potentially initiating RA years before symptoms appear. Even childhood exposure to secondhand smoke increases later risk. Quitting smoking is crucial for protecting joint health and improving treatment outcomes.

India's top drug advisory body recommends restricting over-the-counter access to most nicotine replacement therapies, sparking concerns that it will hinder smokers' efforts to quit. While tobacco products remain widely available, this move could create more hurdles for those seeking quitting aids, potentially impacting public health initiatives.

For India, this development merits careful consideration within the country's broader public health context.

The Indian government is considering making a prescription compulsory for selling nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) containing over 2mg of nicotine to prevent misuse. However, health experts argue for making NRT more accessible and even distributing them for free to reduce tobacco usage. A survey conducted in 2019 found that one in three people aged 15-50 in Delhi-NCR is addicted to smoking. NRT is endorsed by leading health bodies and regulatory bodies, and is considered a critical tool in the fight against tobacco addiction. The proposal to make NRT prescription-based has triggered a debate among experts.

Experts say there is enough scientific evidence to suggest that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can work effectively to quit smoking.

Nicotine chewing gums, meant to wean smokers from tobacco, could increase the risk of cancer, too, said a new research paper published by Tata Memorial Hospital doctors.

Dr Prashant Chhajed, Pulmonologist, Director of the Lung Care and Sleep Centre, Mumbai shares insights on various options for NRT and how they work.

A study has found that people who want to abruptly quit smoking are more likely to succeed if they go cold turkey by stopping.

Lung cancer was a significant health issue in India, comprising 14.3% of all new cancer cases and being the second most common type of cancer. Smoking was a major contributor, with environmental and biomass exposure also increasing risks. Emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis, and nicotine replacement therapy was crucial for combating this disease effectively.

A group of doctors are expressing concern over the proposal to reclassify nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) as prescription drugs. They argue that NRT is safe and empowers individuals to quit smoking, and limiting accessibility to these therapies would hinder efforts to combat tobacco consumption.

Hyderabad-based pharma giant Dr Reddy’s Ltd finalizes its largest acquisition by buying British Haleon Plc’s non-US nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) business for GBP 458 million. The deal includes brands like Nicotinell, thriving in 31 countries, and may involve contingent payments up to GBP 42 million.

According to the Global Adult Tobacco survey 2009-2010, one third of all adults in India use tobacco in one form or the other.

Couples who attempt to quit smoking together have a nearly sixfold chance of success, according to a study which suggests that kicking the habit works best in pairs.

Cytisine, a plant-based compound, increases the chances of successful smoking cessation by over two-fold compared with placebo and may be more effective than nicotine replacement therapy. Cytisine is a low-cost, generic stop-smoking aid used in eastern Europe since the 1960s. It has shown no serious safety concerns. The study pooled the results of eight trials with nearly 6,000 patients and found that cytisine increases the chances of successful smoking cessation by more than two-fold compared with placebo. It could be very useful in reducing smoking in low- and middle-income countries where cost-effective smoking cessation drugs are urgently needed.

City-based drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories has acquired Habitrol brand, a nicotine replacement therapy transdermal patch, from Novartis Consumer Health Inc.

Tobacco addiction, including smoking and its link to lung cancer, is a major global concern. In India, NRT is a promising tool to combat addiction and reduce the risk of lung cancer, addressing both behavioural and physiological components for a smoke-free future. Here's how nicotine replacement therapy helps in curbing this.

The Centre’s decision to make pictorial warning mandatory on cigarette packets may not have the desired impact on smokers. Doctors say will power and motivation are the two pivotal requirements to quit smoking.