Tabex is a preferred treatment drug for chronic nicotinism. Originally it was prepared in Bulgaria from a plant extract, for the treatment of smoking cessation. Tabex has a high tolerance limit and when produces high degree of positive results when used in therapeutic doses. It helps smokers give up their habit gradually without side effects.

Tabex is an alkaloid cystisine whose properties and characteristics are pharmacologically pretty much similar to that of nicotine. Tabex can cause respiratory problems which sometimes can turn fatal if consumed in excessively higher doses.

Contraindications and Caution
Tabex is contraindicated in highly developed stages of atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Patients with following diseases must be administered Tabex with utmost care- cardiac impairment & ischemic cardiac disease, diabetes, obliterating arterial diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, hyperthyroidism, hepatic and renal insufficiency.

The clinical study has demonstrated that the drug is well tolerated and highly effective and as such the undesirable effects are inconsequential provided adequate treatment is made available which means neither a cut down on dosage nor a curtailment of the duration of treatment would be necessary. Nevertheless, the patients must sink it to their minds that continuation of smoking during the treatment with Tabex brings about a high possibility of aggravated undesirable effects of nicotine intoxication.

Since Tabex produces mild to heavy intoxicating effect due to its molecular similarity with nicotine, it is often used by youngsters for entertainment in parties. Since it is known to be addictive, it should be discontinued at the beginning stage itself.

Side Effects
The scientific studies have demonstrated a reasonable tolerance and a string of mild side effects. Here is a list of side effects which are often noticed at the initiation of Tabex administration- altered appetite and taste, nausea, headache, dryness of mouth, irritability, constipation, abnormal heart beats and increase of arterial pressure albeit slightly. It must be noted that most of the side effects fade out during the course of the treatment.

However, the extent of side effects of Tabex to patients with cardiac impairment, ischemic heart disease, obliterating arterial & cerebrovascular troubles, renal and hepatic deficiency, hyperthyroidism and diabetes are not adequately tested and documented clinically.

Pregnancy and lactation: Based on the animal research data available (potential embryotoxic action), pregnant women are advised against using the drug in case of unrestrained administration. Like wise, the Tabex is also not recommended for breast feeding mothers as cystisine is proven to possess the ability to enter into breast milk.

Interaction with Other Drugs
As clinical tests are still inconclusive, enough data of either positive or adverse interaction of Tabex with other drugs is still not available.

Overdose
Overdose of Tabex is observed to cause nicotine intoxication symptoms and its toxic effects manifested into dilation of pupil, abnormal heartbeats, vomiting, nausea, headache, paralysis of respiration and colonic convulsions. Usual line of action in such cases is one of monitoring of respiration, irrigation of the stomach, arterial pressure and initiation of heart rate as is the normal practice in all overdose cases.