| If you have tried and failed to quit smoking | | | | using cold turkey, other research has found that |
| several times, you may be thinking about turning | | | | after around 12 months, there is no increased |
| to stop smoking medicines to help you overcome | | | | success in NRT users compared to non-NRT |
| your habit. It seems like quite a rational step to | | | | users. |
| take if the other methods have failed you, but | | | | Another of the stop smoking medicines available |
| there are many things to understand if you want | | | | is Zyban, which is also known as wellbutrin. Zyban |
| to take the medicinal approach. | | | | was developed as an anti-depressant but found to |
| The three main stop smoking medicines in use | | | | increase the incidence of smoking cessation in trial |
| today and discussed below are nicotine | | | | subjects during it clinical trials as an |
| replacement therapies (NRT), Zyban and Chantix. | | | | anti-depressant. |
| Tobacco companies have known for decades that | | | | As a prescription drug, Zyban is only available |
| the addictive element of cigarettes and tobacco in | | | | after a consultation with your doctor and it is |
| general is nicotine. Indeed, in the 1960's, internal | | | | imperative that you see a doctor due to the |
| research (published in response to lawsuits against | | | | potential complications that can arise using Zyban. |
| tobacco companies in the 1990s) had concluded | | | | People with high blood pressure (common among |
| that any reduction in nicotine content would | | | | smokers) are one group that should consider |
| certainly be detrimental to the industry as people | | | | very carefully, the merits of using such a |
| would be able to stop smoking more readily with | | | | medication. |
| a subsequent impact on sales. | | | | The long term success rate of Zyban is thought |
| You see, the only reason why you continue to | | | | to be around 15% which is considerably lower |
| smoke is because you are addicted to nicotine. | | | | than the success rates first published by |
| Most smokers think that it is because they enjoy | | | | manufacturer sponsored studies. It is often used |
| smoking but this is not genuinely the case. The | | | | in conjunction with NRT too. |
| urge to smoke is not brought about by the need | | | | Finally, the latest introduction in the medical |
| for cigarette smoke coursing down your throat | | | | profession's armoury of stop smoking medicines is |
| and into your lungs. The urge to smoke comes | | | | Chantix (sold as Champix in Europe). Its |
| from a smoker's dependence upon nicotine and | | | | manufacturers Pfizer, claim that it has a 44% |
| cigarettes being the place to get it. | | | | success rate but peer review has found this claim |
| One of the early stop smoking medicines launched | | | | to be a little flattering to say the least. It would |
| back in the 1970s was the nicotine replacement | | | | be fair to say that the long-term cessation rate |
| therapy (NRT) approach to stopping smoking | | | | for smokers quitting with this drug is about 22% |
| using gum. This has been followed with lozenges, | | | | which is still an impressive result. |
| tablets, nasal sprays, inhalers and patches. Whilst | | | | It is understood to work by blocking the effect |
| not strictly a medicine, the concept was simple; | | | | of nicotine in the brain. This means that smokers |
| cigarette smoke is bad, nicotine is not bad for you | | | | have a reduced craving for nicotine and if they do |
| in the doses available, therefore, deliver nicotine in | | | | smoke, they get little or no emotional reward for |
| a non-smoke form and smokers can stop | | | | doing so (unlike how they feel if they are Chantix |
| smoking! | | | | free). In effect, smoking becomes pointless to |
| The idea seems to be logical but if you have ever | | | | them. |
| tried to stop smoking using nicotine replacement | | | | Anecdotally, people either rave about this drug or |
| therapy, you will know that it is not easy. In fact, | | | | complain of the side effects that can be suffered |
| initially, you are only about twice as likely to stop | | | | from using it. Many have to abandon treatment |
| smoking using nicotine replacement therapy, as | | | | due to the severity of the side effects. |
| you would be quitting cold turkey. | | | | A final comment to consider if you are thinking of |
| The flaw in this approach is that you only smoke | | | | seeing your doctor to use a stop smoking |
| to get nicotine. If you get nicotine from another | | | | medication is this: An Australian study found that |
| source, you are maintaining your addiction to it | | | | of all the people who had quit smoking, nearly |
| and therefore, still liable to crave it. If you still | | | | 90% of permanent quitters had done so without |
| crave nicotine, you are at risk of smoking in order | | | | the use of any chemical aids such as these |
| to get it. Nicotine replacement therapy solves the | | | | medication, but using education and willpower to |
| symptoms of nicotine addiction by providing | | | | overcome their addiction. |
| nicotine; it does not solve the cause of the | | | | Quitting smoking is not really about a short period |
| problem itself, which is nicotine addiction! | | | | of time off smoking, it is really about being able |
| Whilst it is widely accepted that NRT helps about | | | | to stop smoking for good. That is where the |
| twice as many smokers quit as those who quit | | | | health benefits lie. |