The anti-smoking group ASH has welcomed the introduction of a new anti-smoking drug, Zyban, which will be available on prescription from today.
Dr Fenton Howell, chairman of ASH, said the organisation "would welcome anything that would help the one million or more Irish smokers to quit".
The drug, taken in tablet form, is nicotine-free and has been available in the US since July 1997.
Since its introduction there Zyban has become that country's most prescribed product for smoking cessation. Within six months it had achieved more than £50 million in sales.
Dr Stephen Murphy, a Dublin-based GP who carried out trials of the drug here, said it was originally developed as an anti-depressant.
"One of the psychiatrists who was monitoring the trial noticed that a number of his patients had a reduced appetite for cigarettes. When he reported it to the company and they looked into it in detail they found that, yes indeed, it did have properties which reduced the desire to smoke cigarettes."
Developed by the pharmaceutical company Glaxo Wellcome, the smoker begins taking Zyban - one pill twice a day - while continuing to smoke for up to two weeks. The company recommends taking the drug for seven to 12 weeks.
There are some side effects, notably the possibility of a dry throat, constipation, insomnia, nausea and excessive sweating. However, recovering smokers who use Zyban are reportedly less prone to putting on weight than those who use other means.
The drug is not cheap, costing about £25 a week. However, it will be available on the medical card as well as on the subsidised drugs scheme.
Dr Howell said he would encourage GPs to prescribe the drug and welcomed its availability to medical card-holders. However, he said, other anti-smoking aids should also be available on the schemes. He particularly noted the cost of nicotine replacement therapies.
Dr Murphy stressed, however, that Zyban was not a miracle "cure" for smoking, adding that it was no substitute for will power. He said smokers who hoped to give up would still need to be highly motivated and to have the support of family and friends.
