A new pill called Varenicline is now being offered to smokers in England who are trying to quit, and it’s being hailed as a “game-changer.” This daily pill has been found to be more effective than nicotine-replacement gum or patches, and is as effective as vapes in helping people kick the habit, according to NHS England.
Varenicline works by reducing cravings and the pleasurable effects of nicotine that keep people addicted. It also helps with withdrawal symptoms like irritability and sleeping problems. Patients typically take a 12-week course of the pill, and it’s estimated that it could help over 85,000 people per year and prevent up to 9,500 smoking-related deaths over the next five years, as reported by University College London (UCL).
Previously, a branded version of the smoking cessation pill known as Champix was prescribed but was withdrawn by Pfizer in 2021 due to an impurity. Now, a generic version of Varenicline from Teva UK has been approved as safe by the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA).
NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard stated that providing Varenicline is part of an initiative to make more effective treatments available while saving over £500 million for taxpayers. Health Secretary Wes Streeting added that the pill could save lives and millions of pounds for the NHS, emphasizing the importance of building a healthy society to support a healthy economy.
Dr. Ian Walker, Cancer Research UK’s policy chief, expressed his approval of the NHS making Varenicline an option for those trying to quit smoking, highlighting that along with funding for cessation services, making tools like this available will help more people quit smoking.
In the UK, around six million people, which is one in eight adults, are smokers. In 2022-23, there were over 400,000 hospital admissions in England linked to smoking. Smoking was estimated to be the cause of 16% of all respiratory disease admissions, 8% of cancer admissions, and 7% of cardiovascular disease admissions. The NHS spends approximately £2.5 billion each year on treating smoking-related health issues, which are the leading cause of preventable illness and death.
