NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (NRT)
WHY IN NEWS ?
- Recently,a group of doctors are expressing concern over the proposal to reclassify nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) as prescription drugs.
MORE ABOUT THE NEWS:
- The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has proposed to place nicotine replacement therapies under Schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules.
- It will make sure thet NRT be available only on the prescription of authorised medical practitioners and not as over-the-counter preparation.
WHAT IS NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY ?
- Nicotine replacement therapy is a treatment to help people stop smoking.
- It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine.
- Nicotine actually changes your brain chemistry to make you crave it more.
- It also makes you feel unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal when you don’t get the amount your body’s used to.
- While withdrawal symptoms usually go away on their own after you quit smoking for a few weeks, some people find that using nicotine replacement therapies can ease the transition and make quitting easier.
- These products do not contain the other toxins found in smoke.
- The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
TYPES OF NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY:
Nicotine supplements come in many forms:
- Gum
- Inhalers
- Lozenges
- Nasal spray
- Skin patch
CHALLENGES IN NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY :
- Nicotine patches are OK for use by most people with stable heart or blood circulation problems.
- But, the unhealthy cholesterol levels (lower HDL level) caused by smoking do not get better until the nicotine patch is stopped.
- Nicotine replacement may not be completely safe in pregnant women.
- The unborn children of women who use the patch may have a faster heart rate.
- Keep all nicotine products away from children. Nicotine is a poison for children.
SYLLABUS: PRELIMS, CURRENT AFFAIRS
