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Stop Smoking Medication
To quit smoking is a big challenge, and smokers often rely on medication
to help them become smoke-free. We find on the market today an abundance
of stop smoking medication designed to aid individuals in their efforts
to stop lighting up. With a strong determination and the proper tools,
a growing number of smokers can quit smoking for good.
Various
Forms of Stop Smoking Medication
Many companies from around the globe are inventing new and successful
medications to help smokers deal with their addiction to nicotine. Medications
such as Zyban, Chantix,
and Wellbutrin must be
prescribed by a doctor, while medications such as the nicotine
patch, nicotine
gum, inhaler, and lozenge can be found on the shelves of
the local drugstores. The main difference between over-the-counter
medication and prescription medication is that
the non-prescription drugs are contrived to dispense nicotine to the user,
while prescription drugs are not nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Does Stop Smoking Medication Really Work?
Nicotine replacement therapy is said to double a smoker’s
chance of success at quitting smoking. Although nicotine replacement aids,
such as the patch, gum, inhaler and lozenge, provide the user with nicotine,
they also diminish the cravings and some of the withdrawal symptoms that
individuals typically experience after quitting. The drug’s dose
of nicotine enters the body at a slow rate, and its effects are less satisfying
than cigarette smoking, but nevertheless the smoker’s strong desire
to light up is significantly quashed. It is important to diligently follow
the instructions on the label of these non-prescription drugs, and to
take them for the recommended period of time for positive results.
Prescription medications such as Zyban, Chantix, and Wellbutrin are designed
to eliminate the body’s need for nicotine altogether. Although these
drugs were typically designed as anti-depressants, they have been found
to significantly influence the part of the brain that is addicted to nicotine.
They require a visit to a physician in order to receive a prescription.
Prescribed stop smoking medications can have from mild to potentially
harmful side effects in certain cases, including mood swings and seizures.
Which Stop Smoking Medication is Right for Me?
Individuals respond differently to the various types of stop
smoking medication. It is not only a matter of personal preference, and
but also the smoker’s level of nicotine addiction. Although one
individual may be able to quit smoking after using the gum for only a
few weeks, another might have to use Wellbutrin for an extended period
of time in order to be successful. The smart thing to do is to talk to
your doctor about your wish to stop smoking, and find out which type of
stop smoking medication is right for you.
Read more about nicotine based
methods and non-nicotine
based methods for quitting smoking.
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