Natural alternative targets nicotine addiction in a unique way |
| May 29 2009 |
On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, leading Australian researcher, Professor Con Stough, calls for natural smoking cessation alternatives to be taken seriously.
Professor Stough, Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne has been involved in the world’s first studies of a Hypericum perforatum (Remotiv®, Ze 117) product compared to transdermal Nicotine Replacement Therapy, and the combination of both, in the management of smoking cessation.
“We have exciting preliminary data on a particular Hypericum perforatum product that shows promise as a natural alternative for smoking cessation. It has a unique mechanism of action on the human brain particular to addiction that attracted me to do this research. It works on dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline like no synthetic drug,” says Professor Stough.
“This product also acts to alleviate some of the symptoms people have when they try to quit, such as heightened anxiety and changes in mood. Nicotine is a drug of addiction so adequate mood support through the withdrawal stage may be critical,” says Professor Stough.
Professor Stough hopes these two preliminary studies will provide a good foundation for larger studies. Although the first two pilot studies show similar efficacy for smoking cessation as nicotine replacement therapy this finding needs to be tested in much larger samples. Already, Remotiv is the best researched St John’s wort available in Australia and has been studied in over 2,000 patients in clinical trials worldwide.
“It makes sense to use a clinically proven natural product that has economic advantages for both the individual and the community,” says Professor Stough.
With 21% of the adult population classed as regular smokers, cigarette smoking has been reported to be responsible for 19,000 Australian deaths each year. Smoking related illnesses contribute significantly to health care costs and pose a considerable burden on the health care system and are estimated to cost the Australian community $21 billion dollars annually.
Remotiv is less expensive than synthetic medicines on the market for smoking cessation. A 12 week course of Remotiv costs $100 compared to $350 for nicotine replacement therapy and $600 for Bupropion.