New anti-smoking drug cytisine that ‘doubles your chances of quitting’ is now available on the NHS

AN anti-smoking pill that could double your chances of quitting is available on the NHS from today.

Supplies of the drug, called cytisine, will reach the health service as of January 22.

Millions of Brits – about 15 per cent – smoke and many find it impossible to kick the dangerous habit.

A study found that smokers were more than twice as likely to give up tobacco when taking cytisine tablets compared to placebo pills.

Researchers also found cytisine was more effective than nicotine replacement therapies like patches and vapes.

The medicine isn’t new, but it’s recently gained regulatory approval in the UK and will be available via prescription on the NHS from today.

Dr Richard Russell, consultant chest physician and clinical reader in respiratory medicine at King’s College London, welcomed the arrival of cytisine to the UK market, calling it “a major advancement in our efforts to assist smokers in quitting”.

He added: “It provides a new hope for many who have struggled to quit smoking in the past and a clear next step for healthcare professionals helping them.

“This is a positive step towards improving the health outcomes of smokers and reducing the burden of smoking-related diseases.”

How does cytisine work?

Cytisine has a chemical structure similar to nicotine and works by dulling cravings and reducing the pleasure of taking a drag on cigarette.

It’s been used as a smoking cessation aid for over 50 years before its launch in the UK, pharmaceutical company Consilient Health – which is behind the launch of the pill – said.

“In both clinical trials and in real-world use, cytisine has been found to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for smoking cessation,” it added.

A pack of 100 pills that smokers will take over 25 days will cost the NHS £115.

But patients getting their tablets through the NHS will only pay the usual prescription fees.

The current prescription charge for England is £9.65 per item, though you can sign onto three and 12-month prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) to save you money.

The Department of Health will urge local councils to prescribe the pills from April with the help of a £70million funding boost that will double smoking services’ budget for the next financial year, The Sun revealed.

But it’s been suggested that the cost of cytisine could deter some areas from providing the medicine as part of their health services.

“It is welcome to have a non-nicotine aid to quitting back on the market as some smokers will prefer this,” said Hazel Cheeseman at Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) told the Guardian.

“However, the decision about whether to include it in stop-smoking services will be local.

“While it is obviously cost-effective given the impact on public services of people continuing to smoke, it is currently more expensive than providing nicotine replacement therapy or vapes, and some areas may decide not to offer it to smokers.”

Luke Crosbie, chief executive at Consilient Health, said cytisine’s launch in the UK “marks a meaningful step forward in enhancing public health”.

The medication “offers a tried and tested solution for smoking cessation but also signifies our dedication to providing accessible healthcare options”, he added.

Smoking has been linked to a range of deadly health conditions, including cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The habit can cause at least 15 different types of cancer, including lung, bowel and mouth cancer.