Is chantix to nicotine as methadone is to heroin?

Question

how effective is it? I smoke about 3 packs a day?

Answer 1

Not at all.

Methadone is also an opiate, it works on the same part of the brain attaching to opiate receptors.  Methadone is just as addictive as heroin, the theory of its use is that in a controlled setting, addicts will get away from their nasty habits, and crime to support the purchase of heroin. (I'm actually not a fan of methadone treatment, as all that seems to happen is you have someone addicted to government grade opiate)

Champix/Chantix binds to nicotine receptors in the brain, PREVENTING nicotine from attaching.  It therefore blocks the release of endorphins that give smokers the pleasurable feeling that helps reinforce the addiction.  In my experience it works pretty well.  There are some reports of psychosis on it however and I've had a couple of people stop it because of stomach upset.

Answer 2

yes and no. methadone pretty much works the same was as heroin, it just doesnt give people the high. chantix works that way in that it works like nicotine, but in addition to working like nicotine it also blunts the effect of nicotine if someone smokes. i think it has about a 20-40% long term quit rate if i remember right, which might seem low but its actually one of the msot effective methods around; cold turkey is only successful about 5-10% of the time and patches and gum around 20%. most smokers require multiple attempts before they are successful so dont give up if it doesnt happen right away