Cytisine

Cytisine is an active ingredient designed to help with smoking cessation. Cytisine is said to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms as well as prevent the rewarding and reinforcing effects. Cytisine is extracted from the laburnum, among other things, and is actually a toxic substance. It is the main alkaloid of laburnum. Cytisine is very similar to nicotine, which is also the reason why it can bind to the same receptors as nicotine. At room temperature, cytisine is a colorless crystalline solid.

Cytisine binds to the subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, the alpha-4-beta-2 receptors. It is assumed that these receptors are the main reason for the addictive effect of nicotine. Cytisine alone reduces this effect. In combination with nicotine, however, it intensifies the withdrawal symptoms, which is an additional positive effect in smoking cessation.

The half-life of Cytisine, i.e. the time the body needs to excrete half of the active ingredient, is 4.8 hours. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), i.e. the maximum concentration of the active substance in the blood plasma (liquid cell-free part of the blood), is reached after about 2 hours.

Always take Cytisine exactly as described in the package leaflet or as advised by your doctor.

The usual recommended dose is 1-1.5 mg every 2 hours and should be slowly reduced until only 2 doses per day are needed after 25 days. Treatment should not last longer than 25 days, otherwise it should be discontinued and restarted after 2-3 months. Smoking should be stopped on the 5th day of treatment at the latest.

The following side effects may occur:

Very common:

• Change in appetite
• Weight gain
• dizziness
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• feelings of anxiety
• hypertension
• Dry mouth
• diarrhea
• skin rash
• fatigue
• insomnia
• headaches
• increased heart rate
• nausea
• Change in the sense of taste
• heartburn
• constipation
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• Muscle pain

Frequent:

• Concentration problems
• Slow pulse
• Flatulence
• burning tongue
• malaise

Occasionally:

• Feeling of a heavy head
• Decreased sex drive
• lacrimation
• Difficulty breathing
• increased expectoration of mucus
• increased salivation
• increased sweating
• reduced skin elasticity
• Increase in liver values in the blood

Interactions may occur if the following medicines are taken at the same time:

• with medication against tuberculosis

The dosage must be adjusted for the following medicines:

• theophylline
• tacrine
• clozapine
• ropinirole

There is a possibility that Cytisine may impair the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Use additional non-hormonal contraceptives (e.g. condoms) while taking Cytisine.

Cytisine must NOT be taken in the following cases:

• in case of allergy to Cytisine
• unstable angina pectoris
• if you have recently had a heart attack
• cardiac arrhythmia
• if you have recently had a stroke

People with kidney and/or liver dysfunction should refrain from taking Cytisine.

Cytisine should NOT be taken by anyone under the age of 18 or over the age of 65 .

Cytisine should NOT be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.