New perspectives in the treatment of tobacco dependence.
Tobacco dependance treatment is a long lasting journey that is now approaching the fifty-years landmark. Beginning with lobeline in the late Fifties, and passing through the development of nicotine replacement therapy, the pharmacological therapy of nicotine dependance has now reached a new phase of intense and florishing research. The purpose of this review is to briefly overview the history of tobacco dependence treatments and to lead the reader towards the future, not only in terms of drug therapy but also of new goals like relapse prevention strategies and smoking reduction. Neurobiology of drug addiction mechanisms better understanding has recently unmasked new therapeutical targets and has lead to the development of new drugs. Nicotine vaccine, tetrahydrocannabinoid receptor blockers, partial agonists for the nicotine receptors are now under evaluation. Interference with the liver enzymes metabolising nicotine is another approach who has just reached the testing phase. The article will briefly overview each of this new promising drug treatments.
Fagerström
Karl
K
D006801:Humans; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*