Quitting tobacco is a step that most smokers want to take at some point in their lives. However, it is not easy and in many cases medical help is needed. to make it. In this sense, to date, treatments such as varecycline, known commercially as Chantix or Champix, have been used. But it was withdrawn from the market, leaving a therapeutic gap that fortunately has recently been filled with all quotea new drug whose active principle is cytistine and which promises break the addiction in 25 days.
This medicine saw the light at the beginning of February as only prescription treatment reimbursable to help reduce the number of smokers. This means that the 198 euros that cost (now 116.93 euros) are financed by Social Security, as long as it is a doctor who prescribes it. To do this, it is not only necessary to apply for it, but also to meet certain requirements.
Todacitan, the new treatment to stop smoking
“Todacitan is indicated in adults for the treatment of tobacco dependence and reduction of anxiety from nicotine dependence in smokers who are willing to quit smoking”, is the description they make in this regard from the official website of the Ministry of Health . Cytistine, the active principle of Todacitan, is a vegetable alkaloid obtained from the seeds of the trees of the genus Cytisus laburnum.
The key is that it simulates the effects that nicotine has on the brain, but unlike other smoking cessation treatments it does not contain it. Cystine helps reduce the symptoms of abstinence syndrome, reducing anxiety levels and the urge to smoke.
Goodbye to tobacco in 25 days
He treatment with Todacitan consists of taking a series of pills for a short period of time, since, otherwise, could lead to dependency. In this way, you start with 6 pills a day (one every two hours) for the first three days; 5 daily (every 2.5 hours) from the fourth to the twelfth day; 4 daily (every 3 hours) from the 13th to the 16th; 3 daily (every five hours) from 17 to 20 and one or two doses between days 21 and 25.
This progressive way of taking the drug favors the patient adherence, as well as the independence of the habit. Of course, to be effective, smoking must be stopped no later than the fifth day of treatment because otherwise they could worsen adverse reactions.
How to request the medication to quit smoking?
In order to start Todacitan treatment, you must go to the GP and let him be the one who assesses the need to prescribe it. In addition, as reported by the Ministry of Health, it is essential meet a number of requirements so that the doctor in question can prescribe the medication.
- Patients must be included in a support program (individual and/or group) of smoking cessation that is implemented in the CCAA/INGESA or Mutual Societies.
- The patients must have express motivation to quit smoking that can be verified with an attempt to quit smoking in the last year.
- Must be patient who smoke 10 cigarettes or more a day and also have a high level of dependency qualified by the Fagerström test: greater than or equal to 7.
- An annual attempt will be funded per patient to quit smoking with pharmacological support.
- Each prescription will be made for one container, which is equivalent to 25 days of treatment. The treatment will be a maximum of 25 days, as described in the technical data sheet, which is equivalent to one container.