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New
Vaccine Sends Nicotine's Pleasurable Effects Up In Smoke
Long-term Protection
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Based on the way other
vaccines work, the nicotine-specific antibodies from this one have
the potential to remain in the circulatory system for a period of
years, says David H. Malin, PhD, professor of psychology and
neuroscience at University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas. He, along
with Dr. Fattom, Dr. Pentel and others, recently published a paper
on the new vaccine.
If someone who's vaccinated decides to light up a year or two
after kicking the habit, for example, the mood-enhancing properties
of a cigarette are likely to be diminished or absent. "There is
at least the possibility that a smoker who backslides may be
disappointed," Dr. Malin said. "It might feel like they
are just smoking burning paper."
Although a vaccine like this might seem like the smokers'
equivalent of the alcohol deterrent Antabuse (generic name
disulfiram) for alcoholics, Antabuse often actually makes drinkers a
bit ill. NicVAX probably works for nicotine addiction as the drug naltrexone
(ReVia) does for alcohol abuse: It just takes away the pleasurable
feelings, Dr. Malin says.
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