Smoking addiction is not simply an addiction to nicotine. Many will say that besides the pleasure and “feel good” effect of nicotine, it is also the ritual involved with smoking that keeps smokers attracted. First they compact the cigarette pack, then they open the pack and light the first cigarette. Finally comes the smoking. Nicotine then floods the body after a mere 15 seconds and a smoker’s brain is rewarded with dopamine, which gives them pleasure. Dependence and addiction comes from a smoker associating the smoking ritual with pleasurable stimulation, and strategies to stop this addiction aim to dissociate pleasure from cigarettes. This is where quit smoking pills and nicotine replacement products (NRP) have their place. These products do not involve the smoking ritual and yet provide their users with the same pleasurable effect. This helps in dissociating pleasure from smoking cigarettes.

Drug treatments address the biochemical aspects of smoking, and there are different stop smoking pills available on the market. In order to appreciate the success rate of these pills, we need to deduct the “natural” rate of smoking cessation (which is about 1.5–3% a year). Bearing this in mind, the rate of 15-20% quoted in different studies is significant in concluding the effectiveness of pills and medication in helping people quit smoking. (Hatziandreu, 1990)

NRPs like nicotine patches, gum and inhalers which are discussed elsewhere. Below are the different non-nicotine anti-smoking pills found in pharmacies.

Zyban
The pioneer of non-nicotine containing medication to stop smoking. Created as an anti-depressant, it retains its ability to make people feel alert, vigorous, elated and energetic, due to the stimulating properties of bupropion, but without the addicting properties like in amphetamines. It has already been subsidized by the Australian Government and has been well trialled and tested.

Chantix
A new cease smoking drug to help smokers quit that has been approved by the US FDA. It is also nicotine free. Some have quoted higher success than the Zyban pill, with up to 1 in 5 smokers quitting if they fit into the right study population.