How Much Do You Know About Nicotine-Replacement Therapy?
Want to quit smoking? Here is the latest information about
nicotine-replacement therapy and other aids that can help you.
1. Most medicines that help you quit smoking contain
nicotine.
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Most medicines to
help with smoking cessation do contain nicotine. These medicines are called
nicotine-replacement therapy. They ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce the craving
for
nicotine, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) says. People trying to quit get a dose
of
nicotine but not by smoking. Because it is cigarette smoke that harms the lungs, a
smoker's health begins to get better during this treatment. Smokers should use these
medicines in smaller and smaller amounts for a few months, then finally stop using
them.
Bupropion and varenicline tartrate are 2 smoking-cessation aids that do not contain
nicotine.
2. Talk with your healthcare provider before using
nicotine-replacement therapy if you have high blood pressure.
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You should also check
with your healthcare provider if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Check with your
provider if you have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, or stomach ulcers.
3. Nicotine replacements come in several forms.
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Over-the-counter
nicotine-replacement therapy comes as a patch, gum, nasal spray, inhaler, or lozenge.
Choose an aid that best fits your lifestyle and your need for nicotine. You can also
get
other help to quit smoking. This includes counseling, hypnosis, and acupuncture.
4. Using an inhaler helps you quit smoking by satisfying your
physical and mental cravings for nicotine.
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The inhaler looks
like a cigarette and contains a cartridge. You can draw a small amount of nicotine
into
your mouth with each puff. The nicotine does not end up in your lungs, as it does
in
smoking. It is absorbed by the mucus membranes in your mouth and throat.
5. A nasal spray sends a dose of nicotine directly into your
nose, where your body absorbs it quickly.
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Each nasal spray has
a certain dose of nicotine. Don't use a nicotine nasal spray if you have a nasal or
sinus condition, or allergies or asthma. Young smokers also should not use this
treatment, the NCI says.
6. Nicotine patches are adhesive patches that slowly release
nicotine through your skin.
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The patches come in
different amounts of nicotine. Once you put the patch on your skin, you leave it on
for
a certain amount of time, such as 16 to 24 hours. As treatment progresses, you use
a
patch containing less nicotine. The nicotine patch is not a good choice for people
who
have skin problems or allergies to adhesive tape, the NCI says.
7. Nicotine gum releases nicotine whenever you start chewing
it.
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This treatment is a
good choice if you crave having something in your mouth. The gum is available in 2-mg
and 4-mg strengths. If you have a jaw joint disease, gum disease, or peptic ulcer
disease, you may not want to use nicotine gum. You also shouldn't use the gum if you
have dentures or bridges. Nicotine gum also can be used along with the nicotine patch.
8. Bupropion is a medicine used to treat depression, but it also
helps ex-smokers cope with anxiety, cravings, and other withdrawal symptoms.
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Bupropion eases
withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke, but it does not contain nicotine. Common
side
effects of this medicine include dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, and skin
rash. Don't use this medicine if you have a seizure disorder or an eating disorder.
You
also shouldn't use it if you use other medicines that contain bupropion hydrochloride.
Varenicline tartrate is another medicine than can help you quit smoking. It may cause
sleep disorders, insomnia, and abnormal dreams. Don't drink alcohol while taking
this
medicine because it may cause unusual behavior or aggressiveness.
9. It's safe to smoke while using nicotine-replacement
therapy.
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You shouldn't smoke
while using nicotine replacement. But if you do, don't remove your patch. It’s much
more
risky that a person will have one cigarette and give up on the replacement therapy,
thinking he or she can’t do both.
10. You may be more likely to quit smoking if you use nicotine
replacement along with counseling.
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Your healthcare
provider, dentist, or pharmacist can counsel you on quitting smoking. You can also
call
a "quitline," a toll-free number that connects you to a telephone counselor. Research
shows that you are more likely to quit smoking if you have good social support during
the withdrawal process. Medicine and counseling when used together work better than
when either is used along, the CDC says..
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