Nicotine Replacement Therapy




A smoker who is quitting usually faces two aspects of dependency: psychological (emotional) and physical. The first one draws a person back to smoking by influencing their brain: ex-smoker might still have smoking friends with whom he or she used to spend time and go on smoke breaks with at work.

Besides, such a well-established habit does not want to be given up. For example, if the smoker used to reach for cigarettes every time he or she had to concentrate on a hard task, when trying to stay awake while driving early in the mornings, or if smoking was used as an excuse to leave a room when something (or someone) was becoming annoying.

The second aspect is physical discomfort due to lack of nicotine such as hunger, insomnia, thirst, fatigue, etc.

Often it is hard to stand against both of these aspects, so ex-smokers are offered nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which consists of nicotine based products that substitute for cigarettes while the person is fighting the psychological aspect of quitting. Seventy to ninety percent of smokers blame physical problems for keeping them from quitting, so NRT increases the chance of success in giving up smoking.

In 2000, the US Agency for Healthcare Research and the Quality Clinical Practice Guideline on Smoking Cessation recommended using NRT as a part of a quitting program for all adult smokers except pregnant women and people with heart and circulatory diseases. However, some recent studies have shown that NRT (the nicotine patch in particular) can be used under doctor’s supervision even by those who have heart or cardiovascular disease.

The best time to use NRT is when smoking is given up completely. Some heavy smokers think they can gradually reduce the number of cigarettes if they substitute part of them with nicotine containing products, but manufacturers have advised not to do so, because it might lead to nicotine overdose. As soon as the smoker makes the decision to quit completely, he or she can start NRT.

There are various products that can be used: nicotine gums, patches, nasal sprays, inhalers, or lozenges. The choice usually depends on what kind of smoker the person is. A light smoker does not go above 10 cigarettes a day. As a rule, NRT is not needed in this case because the withdrawal symptoms are not as severe as in other types and it has not been proven that NRT helped light smokers. A heavy smoker smokes a pack a day or more. The category of people who have between 10 and 20 cigarettes a day is considered to be average.

While people have their preferences in products there is not much difference in their effect on a smoker’s body. One’s lifestyle and pattern of smoking determine what kind of cigarette replacement would be best. Here are some hints that can help make the decision:

• Nicotine gums, inhalers, and lozenges would be a good choice if the ex-smoker wants to have better control over cravings, thirst, or just wants to chew something.
• Although the gums and lozenges are sugar-free, it is still recommended to consult a doctor if the participant is a diabetic.
• Nasal spray is the fastest working product.
• Inhaler is closest to a cigarette by puffing and a need to hold it.
• Inhalers and nasal sprays have to have doctor’s permission.
• Nicotine patches are very convenient and effective: they only have to be applied once a day.

No matter what kind of NRT the person will choose, it is important to read the instructions and follow them strictly: the recommended doses and terms should not be exceeded.

Denis Creed

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Posted on March 11, 2009 
Filed Under How to Quit Smoking, Stop Smoking, Stop Smoking News

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