Quit Smoking Aids
There are a wide range of quit smoking aids currently available, all designed to help make smoking cessation more achievable. Many of these treatments have been subject to wild claims concerning their success rate and speed at which they will help you give up a lifelong habit. Below, we have reviewed some of the top products available today, as well as providing a substantial amount of clinical proof regarding each one. This should help you choose the best smoking cessation treatment with ease.
Quit smoking aids such as nicotine patches and gum are regularly referred to as Nicotine Replacement Therapy or NRT. They help smokers deal with the nicotine cravings experienced after quitting smoking and will increase your chances of quitting smoking successfully.
As the name suggests, NRT treatments contain nicotine. Nicotine is the substance in cigarettes that makes smoking so addictive. On its own, nicotine is not as harmful as smoking, and does not contain toxic chemicals such as tar or carbon monoxide.
Some of these nicotine smoking aids are available on prescription while some are OTC (over the counter). Before starting any course, you should check with your pharmacist or physician, particularly if you are currently taking any other medicines. All NRT products work in the same way. However, the method they use to deliver nicotine to the body can be very different. We have given a brief outline of the various types of nicotine treatments.
Nicotine Gum - When you chew the gum, the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth. They are very easy to take on-the-go and are one of the more popular smoking aids.
Nicotine Patches - These quit smoking aids come in two different forms. They work well for most smokers and can be worn for up to 24 hours. This can vary, depending upon the product purchased.
Nicotine Lozenges – These Lozenges are sucked slowly to release the nicotine, and take about 20-30 minutes to dissolve. These quit smoking aids are easy to use.
Nicotine Inhalators - These quit smoking treatments look like a plastic cigarette. The inhalator releases nicotine vapor which is absorbed through your mouth and throat.
Up until a few years ago, NRT treatments were the most successful way of giving up smoking. However, with the introduction of Chantix back in 2007, non-nicotine based treatments have taken over and clinical trials have proven their success rate.
Non-Nicotine quit smoking aids
Zyban - The active ingredient in this quit smoking drug is bupropion hydrochloride. It was first developed to treat depression. However, scientists soon discovered that it worked on the brain to help aid smoking cessation.
It has not yet been determined exactly how this drug helps to relieve the withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking. The ingredients in Zyban act on the central nervous system and the brain to alter various neurotransmitters. This relieves the withdrawal symptoms such as nicotine cravings, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, irritability, hunger, difficulty with concentration and depression.
Chantix – This treatment contains the active ingredient Varenicline which acts on the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. By working on these receptors, Chantix imitates the effects of nicotine, helping to reduce cravings and withdrawal effects when you stop smoking.
Clinical trials have shown that smokers trying to quit with Chantix have a success rate of 44%, with full 12 week course. This effectiveness is unrivalled by any other treatment. The same research showed that using Chantix meant people have 3 times more chance of quitting smoking than they would with just will power alone.
