FDA OKs Pfizer Anti-Smoking Pill

[AlamoDemoc]

By ANDREW BRIDGES
Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 7 minutes ago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060511/ap_on_he_me/anti_smoking_pill

WASHINGTON - A tablet shown to help more than one in five smokers quit joined the limited number of effective stop-smoking drugs on Thursday, approved by federal regulators.

When varenicline goes on sale later this year, it will become the first new prescription drug for smoking cessation approved by the
Food and Drug Administration in nearly a decade and only the second stop-smoking drug that is nicotine-free, according to Pfizer Inc.

Varenicline works in two ways, by cutting the pleasure of smoking and reducing the withdrawal symptoms that lead smokers to light up over and over again.

[enid602]

1. pill

Will it make me a Republican, too? Oh, joy!

[Dr.Phool]

2. I've tried everything

The patch, welbutrin, gum, shots in my head. Nothing worked.

Almost 4 weeks ago, my wife and I started on Nicotrol inhalers. Neither of us have had a cigarette since. I think this is going to work.

[FreeState]

3. I used the pill months ago next Wednesday

Still smoke free and loving it. This is about the 10th time I have quit - but the longest - hopefully for ever.

[wiley]

4. Any side effects from the inhaler?

That's really good news! Keep it up! There are SO MANY benefits to stopping smoking.


:yourock:

[wiley]

5. One pill twice a day for a year?

I can't seem to locate any hard data (drop out rates, adverse events over 2%, etc.) Is it an SSRI?