Human Trials Of Anti-Smoking Vaccine Begin 119
Makarand writes "A Nicotine
vaccine that may help smokers to quit
has made it to human trials.
The vaccine is administered as a series of eight shots --
patients receive two shots per visit during four different visits. The vaccine works by
stimulating the human immune system to produce antibodies that
bind with the nicotine molecules
to form a larger complex molecule which
cannot pass through the blood/brain barrier to get
into the brain. As a result smokers
will not feel the 'high' from the cigarettes they light up and lose interest in smoking.
Preliminary studies have shown that this vaccine is safe in humans." (Each link goes to a slightly different version of the same wire story.)
There's more than one type of addiction (Score:5, Informative)
Re:There's more than one type of addiction (Score:3, Informative)
And just as a precaution, IANA Medical Professional.
Re:Only a matter of time before it's mandatory (Score:3, Informative)
That's a load if I ever saw one. Go have a look at the incidence of childhood asthma among children with parents who smoke versus those who don't. Come back and let us know what you find.
Consider that the University of Wisconsin medical school estimates annual health care costs of $4.6 billion for treating the asthma, ear, and respiratory infections of kids living in smoking households.
I watched my girlfriend suffer for years living with a smoking parent. When they finally quit, the immediate improvement in her health was remarkable. Smoking affects no one but the smoker? Give me a break.
Re:Help (Score:3, Informative)
Bupropion [nami.org]. Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. Also sold under the name Zyban.