A review on current therapies and its problems in smoking cessation

Smoking is likely the most preventable reason for ailments and premature death in the world. In 2010 it was estimated that approximately there are 120 million smokers in India. Around 70% of tobacco smokers are willing to stop, yet just 2-3% prevail with regards to doing so for all time every year. The first line pharmacotherapies normally used for smoking cessation include Nicotine substitution products (gum, transdermal patch, nasal spray, inhaler, and lozenge), varenicline and bupropion. Non-pharmacological therapies such as patient education, Counselling when used by physicians along with pharmacotherapies are found to increase the cessation rates by two folds within a single year. Blend pharmacotherapies are expanding the smoking restraint rates and furthermore lessens the withdrawal manifestations and are demonstrated to be as powerful as monotherapies. Physicians assume a significant job in the smoking discontinuance process. Significant rates of quitting smoking are accomplished when non-pharmacologic help is joined with pharmacological interventions. New treatment options such as nicotine vaccines are found to have better therapeutic effects and abstinence rates on smokers compared to other pharmacotherapies available. This review article deals with the available therapies (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) for smoking cessation along with the limitations and adverse effects associated with different pharmaceutical formulations.