Champix tablets are quite a popular smoking cessation medication that can be bought on a prescription only. An electronic cigarette, on the other hand, works as a nicotine replacement therapy that provides your body with the essential nicotine but without the other harmful additives of cigarette smoke.
Electronic cigarettes are being touted as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco products, such as cigarettes; in addition, they are being marketed as a tool to help you break free from smoking addiction. But mind you, e-cigarettes do contain tobacco and give you an instant nicotine hit that is 10 times faster than gum or patches. On the other hand Champix is completely free from nicotine. It works as a nicotinic receptor partial agonist; this theoretically means that it both stimulates and blocks nicotine receptors to reduce withdrawal symptoms as well as cigarette cravings.
While proponents of electronic cigarettes say that smoking tobacco subjects the users to up to 4,000 different toxins that are released through combustion, electronic cigarettes deliver only nicotine. In fact, a recent U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) test for carcinogens in e-cigarettes has validated the fact that two of the most popular brands of electronic cigarettes contain toxic chemicals diethylene glycol, nitrosamines as well as other carcinogens which indicate the probability of long term harm. Where as, Champix contains none of these harmful materials; in fact you are evaluated by a medical doctor before you are given the liberty to use Champix.
There are many other concerns raised by health experts which include:
Electronic cigarettes could cause nicotine poisoning; Champix is free from nicotine.
Marketing practices, such as adding chocolate or mint flavourings to the vapour, seem to target teens and children; Champix is strictly a prescription drug and is not recommended for use by children.
People who do not smoke tobacco may become nicotine-dependent after using these safer cigarettes; where as Champix is only prescribed to people who are looking to quit smoking successfully.
E-cigarettes are a largely unregulated product and therefore do not carry product health warnings; where as Champix is FDA regulated and comes marked with all the essential precautionary guidelines.
No studies exist to validate the claim that e-cigarette works for smoking cessation; while Champix was approved for use after sizable clinical trials were conducted.
While e-cigarette is additive, Champix takes you away from nicotine addiction.
Therefore, for the best chances of achieving smoking cessation successfully, you need to combine medication with counseling or support group participation.