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:

  • 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