Abstract
Tobacco dependence is a chronic relapsing disease. Effective treatment respecting the principles of evidence-based medicine exists and increases abstinence rates significantly.
It should be offered and available to all smokers. Treatment means both psychobehavioural intervention - lasting as long as possible - and pharmacotherapy, always combined with other interventions.
The group of first-line drugs comprises varenicline, bupropion, and nicotine. Furthermore, the use of cystine, a drug not yet registered on the Czech market, can be contemplated.
The goal of pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence is the suppression of withdrawal symptoms - no drug itself can prevent anyone from smoking. Therefore, it is always necessary to apply both components of treatment.
The pharmacotherapy increases the success rate significantly, depending on the length of intervention. The recommended duration of its use is 3-6 months.
In many countries, this pharmacotherapy is fully reimbursed while in the Czech Republic, only several health insurance companies partly contribute to its financial coverage.