Treatments
Help With Physical Addiction: Nicotine Replacement
Help With Physical Addiction: Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Other Medicines
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
As mentioned earlier, the nicotine in cigarettes leads to actual physical dependence, which can cause unpleasant symptoms when a person tries to quit. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) gives you nicotine -- in the form of gums, patches, sprays, inhalers, or lozenges -- but not the other harmful chemicals in tobacco. It can help relieve some of these symptoms so that you can focus on the psychological aspects of quitting.
How Nicotine Replacement Works
Nicotine substitutes treat the difficult withdrawal symptoms and cravings that 70% to 90% of smokers say is their only reason for not giving up cigarettes. Using a nicotine substitute, reduces a smoker's withdrawal symptoms.
Although many smokers can quit smoking without using a nicotine replacement, most of those who attempt quitting cannot do it on the first try. In fact, smokers usually need many tries -- sometimes as many as 8 to 10 -- before they are able to quit for good.
Lack of success is often related to the onset of withdrawal symptoms. And most quitters go back to smoking within the first 3 months of quitting. So don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Just try to stop again and make your attempt more successful by adding another method or technique to help you quit. Reducing these symptoms with nicotine replacement therapy and a support technique, gives smokers who want to quit have a better chance of quitting and staying quit.
Bupropion (Zyban®)
Bupropion (Zyban®) is a prescription antidepressant in an extended-release form that reduces symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. It does not contain nicotine. This drug acts on chemicals in the brain that are related to nicotine craving. It can be used alone or together with nicotine replacement. Bupropion works best if it is started 1 or 2 weeks before the quit date. The usual dosage is one or two 150 mg tablets per day.
This drug should not be taken if you have ever had seizures, heavy alcohol use, serious head injury, bipolar (manic-depressive) illness, anorexia or bulimia (eating disorders).
Some doctors may recommend combination drug therapy for heavily addicted smokers, such as using bupropion along with a nicotine replacement patch and/or a short-acting form of nicotine replacement (such as gum or lozenges).
Varenicline (Chantix™)
Varenicline (Chantix™) is a newer prescription medicine developed for the sole purpose of helping people stop smoking. It works by interfering with nicotine receptors in the brain, which has two effects. It lessens the pleasurable physical effects a person gets from smoking, and it reduces the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Several studies have shown varenicline can more than double the chances of quitting smoking. Some studies have also found it may be more effective than bupropion, at least in the short-term.
Reported side effects of varenicline have included headaches, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, unusual dreams, flatulence (gas), and changes in taste. There have also been reports of depressed mood, thoughts of suicide, attempted suicide, and changes in behavior in people taking varenicline. People who have these problems should contact their doctors right away. Although these side effects may happen, varenicline is usually well-tolerated. Since varenicline is a newer drug, research has not been done to find out if it is safe to use along with nicotine replacement products.
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