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The majority of medications to help quit smoking fall into the category of nicotine replacement therapy. These include medications available over the counter in the form of a nicotine patch (also prescription-only, depending on brand), nicotine lozenge, or nicotine gum. Nicotine inhalers and nicotine nasal sprays are available by prescription.
If you would prefer to use a non-nicotine replacement medication, you have several options. Bupropion SR is an anti-depressant prescribed by a doctor. Many people have also found that alternative medicine helps them with the painful process of withdrawal. No matter which medication you choose, if any, be sure to consult with your doctor before beginning or stopping treatment.
A smoker yses a new patch daily on his or her upper body for eight weeks or longer. The patch passes nicotine into your system by transferring it from your skin into your bloodstream. Name brands Nicoderm CQ and Nicotrol are available over-the-counter, while Habitrol is prescription only. If, after the first week of treatment, you have still not quit smoking entirely, speak to your doctor about adjusting the dosage or using additional medication.
Lozenges dissolve in your mouth and passes nicotine into your bloodstream through the lining of your mouth. Doses are set at two milligrams for regular smokers and four milligrams for heavy smokers, and are recommended to be taken every couple hours for six weeks. After that point, you can decrease the number of doses through the following six weeks. The brand name Commit lozenge is available over-the-counter.
Nicotine gum
Like the lozenges, nicotine gum delivers nicotine through the mouths
lining. Doses vary between two- and four-milligrams; most users chew between 10 and 15 pieces daily. Nicotine gum should be used for a one- to three-month period, and is not recommended for longer than six months. Probably the best-known brand name, Nicorette, is available over-the-counter.
Nicotine inhaler
An inhaler works to satisfy smoking urges, as well as strictly nicotine cravings.
Looking similar to a cigarette holder, the inhaler gives you a chance to
puff, which causes it to give off nicotine vapors. The vapors are
absorbed by the mouth lining and delivered to the bloodstream and,
eventually, the brain. The brand name Nicotrol inhaler is available via
prescription.
The nasal spray delivers its effects more quickly than either the gum or the patch.
Nicotine is sprayed directly into the nostrils. After being absorbed by
nasal membranes, the nicotine is passed into the veins and to the heart
and brain. Known as brand name Nicotrol NS, nasal spray is typically
prescribed for three-month periods, to be used for a maximum of six
months.
Bupropion does not contain nicotine. Rather, this antidepressant increase
dopamine levels in the brain, which is the chemical that is boosted by nicotine.
Bupropion side effects include dry mouth, headaches, and sleep disturbance.
Known as brand name Zyban, bupropion must be prescribed by a doctor and
shouldn’t be given to patients with a history of seizures or serious
head trauma. Other antidepressants such as nortriptyline may be an
alternative option.
Alternative medicine
Although alternative medicine exists in many forms, the ones used most often for quitting smoking are behavior therapy and relaxation techniques. In behavior therapy, a therapist helps you understand why you smoke,
develop coping skills, and thereby change your behaviors and thoughts.
Relaxation techniques or meditation focus on reducing stress.
Using a medication to quit smoking makes you twice as likely to quit
successfully. The most successful form of treatment of all is the use of
therapy or counseling in conjunction with medication. If you are
thinking about quitting, find out as much as possible about all the
quitting aids available to you through this website and others, and
consult with your health services provider.
Bupropion( Brands: Wellbutrin, Zyban) is an antidepressant medication that is also widely used to aid in smoking cessation. The marked difference in bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy is that bupropion does not contain nicotine and is less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms.
How bupropion helps in reducing craving for tobacco products is not fully understood but it has no relation to its anti-depressant action. Smokers without depression can benefit from bupropion as effectively as those with depression.
How to use Bupropion
Bupropion is a prescription medication and should be taken only as per the instructions of the doctor. Start the treatment about a week or two before you give up smoking. The treatment will go on for about 12 weeks. There needs to be enough buildup of bupropion in your body for you to banish tobacco. Your doctor will prescribe 1 to 2 pills of 150 milligram strength daily depending on your response to treatment. Do not change the doses on your own; let your doctor monitor your progress.
Advantages
- Bupropion helps smokers quit the habit of smoking as effectively as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), with the advantage that it does not contain nicotine.
- Bupropion is effective in reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, lack of concentration and depression.
- Bupropion comes in the form of pills which provides convenience unlike some NRT products.
- Since bupropion does not contain nicotine it is not addictive.
- Bupropion can be prescribed for several months up to a year, unlike NRT.
In some cases the effectiveness of bupropion in smoking cessation can be increased by combining it with some NRT treatment.
Side effects
Some common side effects of bupropion are dryness, sleep disorders, dizziness, change in taste, and headaches. Rare but serious side effects include extreme drowsiness, seizures, and high blood pressure.
Precautions
- If you feel drowsy you should not be driving or operating machinery.
- Follow the prescribed dosages for the treatment to work effectively.
- Let your doctor know of any other conditions you have or treatments you are taking.
- Bupropion cannot be prescribed to you if you have an alcohol abuse problem. However do not abruptly stop alcohol if you wish to quit drinking. Work with your doctor and get a plan.
- Bupropion is not for those with an eating disorder.
- You are not advised to take bupropion if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Note: medications that help smokers kick the habit work best when combined with counseling and self motivation. If not for self help, medications cannot help you get rid of the smoking habit for good.
Zyban tablets contain the active ingredient bupropion hydrochloride, which is a medicine used to help people who are dependant on nicotine to give up smoking. It acts in the brain but is not the same as nicotine replacement therapy. It is not fully understood how this medicine works to help people give up smoking, but it is known that bupropion affects neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells and are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells. Neurotransmitters are released from nerve cells as a message is transmitted.
