Chantix and AlcoholCHANTIX™ Overview
Alcohol Treatment Millions of U.S. citizens abuse alcohol regularly, according to government statistics. The discovery that CHANTIX can help curb the desire for alcohol is welcomed news in an area that is almost devoid of effective treatments and plans. Early research carried out on rats showed that after exposure and addiction to alcohol, they cut their cravings in half after being treated with CHANTIX. There was no rebound when the animals were taken off the drug. One of the many advantages to this drug is that it is not metabolized in the liver like many other medications are. This is great news for alcoholics because many of them have at least some degree of liver damage from abusing alcohol for so many years. With smokers, the drug works by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain, making the act of smoking less enjoyable. Research points to the same areas of the brain being affected by alcohol, so the CHANTIX will act the same way with alcoholics as it does with smokers. A study led by Selena Bartlett of the University of California found the drug to be safe for people who are in a smoking cessation program, and could be good for alcohol dependence as well. Also, since alcohol and tobacco dependence are often seen together, finding one drug to treat both is a major step in addiction treatment.* However, it’s important to remember that there is no magical cure for either smoking or alcoholism. They are both diseases in some form, and there may also be a biological reason why they go together that CHANTIX does not approach. Until there are human clinical trials run, no one will know how the drug will work for treatment of alcoholism or treatment of both smoking and drinking. Like diet pills for the overweight, CHANTIX and other stop-smoking aids are only support. It’s important to remember that CHANTIX will not treat the effects of withdrawal from cigarettes, so it likely will not affect any treatment on alcohol withdrawal either. It’s important to distinguish side effects of the drug--which amount to nausea, constipation, and sleep disturbance--from withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, increased appetite, and shortened attention span. If you are looking for help with alcohol addiction, CHANTIX may be a new kid on the block soon. However, since it is not currently available, it’s still important for you to get treatment from a medical professional and to attend support meetings and other treatment as necessary. Don’t wait for CHANTIX trials and approval--get help now. *SOURCE: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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CHANTIX (varenicline), a prescription
medication that Pfizer developed to help people stop
smoking, is one of the up-and-coming new players in the
alcohol treatment arena. This medication is a 12-week
program for a smoker that includes medicine and a one-year
support plan (the GETQUIT™ Support Plan). This drug
operates primarily on the nicotine receptors even though
it contains no nicotine, and with good planning, strong
commitment, and consistency, anyone can quit smoking.
