Cytisine has been used as an aid to quitting smoking in former socialist economy countries

Team@CMHF

• Strategies that have been shown to be helpful in aiding smoking cessation include behavioural support and drug treatment.
• In poorer countries, the cost of treatment may exceed that of cigarettes.
• Cytisine is extracted from Golden Rain acacia seeds (Cytisus laborinum L) and has been used as an aid to quitting smoking in former socialist economy countries, such as Russia, Bulgaria, and Poland, for many years.
• It is a partial agonist with high-affinity binding to the α4β2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that has been implicated in nicotine dependence.
• Study at a single centre in Warsaw, Poland, has shown that cytisine is more effective than placebo in promoting smoking cessation.
• A total of 740 smokers (at least 10 cigarettes a day and willing to try to stop) were randomized to cytisine or placebo for 25 days, with minimal counselling.
• The rate of biochemically verified abstinence for 12 months was 8.4% (cytisine) vs 2.4% (placebo), a highly significant difference.
• The 7-day point prevalence for abstinence at the 12-month follow-up was 13.2% vs 7.3%. Gastrointestinal adverse events were more common in the cytisine group.
• Cytisine was more effective than placebo. Compared with other drugs used for smoking cessation, it is relatively inexpensive and may be affordable in developing countries.For further reading log on to
  http://www.mims.com/India/pub/topic/Medical%20Progress/2012-01/Cytisine%20to%20help%20smoking%20cessation?token=rnp4v0BfyQa5o3iSS1Uv5Ry6TWCP4H8SXzFN8QDJQWsdRem7xvQDxUqlpXN%2bbqvA6iUzZvQ6IIr2oOjhiWgAI%2bL14uZmqjWGMLppaiqv2h5bEKuxJ8I5baSmaTqrYiqs0Blpdpe1QG3ZWYzLRugvWa0QTuHjVbuHhkrwwm6qx13z0CpNc8ooCOfBSJMdqyKbkEx12w3C%2bqxm8R1rHKdGAw%3d%3d