Cytisine (pending)

Cytisine

Cytisine is a natural plant alkaloid, extracted from the seeds of the golden rain acacia plant (Cytisus laborinum L.), that comes in tablet form.

Like varenicline (Champix), cytisine is a partial agonist of alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Like varenicline, cytisine acts to reduce withdrawal symptoms and urges to smoke; it also reduces the reward and satisfaction associated with smoking.

There are moves to make cytisine widely available in the UK and we will keep you informed of any significant developments and ensure that, if it is made available, you have all of the information you need to talk confidently to smokers about cytisine.