Medications That Help Stop Smoking

Fortunately for the person who is trying to stop smoking, there are a number of medicines or medications that help stop smoking.

Watch this video first - it will make you want to quit smoking immediately

This is a short guide that will offer a few tips on a few stop smoking medications that are available and attempt to highlight the pros and the problems with each.

Medications that help stop smoking include the nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhaler, and nicotine lozenges.

Even though all of these products except for the nicotine inhaler can be purchased over-the-counter without a prescription, they are still considered to be medications.

These products work by providing the person who is quitting smoking with a controlled release of nicotine into her bloodstream.  This nicotine is carried to the receptors in your brain and helps to control your urges and cravings for a cigarette.

The idea behind these nicotine containing medications is that you slowly wean yourself from dependence on nicotine and eventually eliminate your need for nicotine completely.

Other medications that help stop smoking are the prescription drugs available only through your doctor or health care provider.  These include the drugs such as Zyban and Chantix.

Although Zyban and Chantix do not contain nicotine, they work to interfere with your body's craving for nicotine.

Let's take a look at prescription medications first and then we'll take a look at the nicotine-based medications that help stop smoking.

Prescription Based Medications That Help Stop Smoking

As you may know, tobacco provides nicotine to your body.  Nicotine is a drug and is the main reason why smoking is so difficult to quit.  The nicotine causes your brain to release dopamine which is a chemical that results in positive feelings you get when you smoke a cigarette.

When you stop smoking cigarettes, dopamine is not being released by your brain like before.  This causes withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating and even anger.

Even though not providing you with nicotine, prescription drugs like Zyban and Chantix result in your brain releasing low levels of dopamine, thereby decreasing your nicotine craving and lessening your symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

Chantix goes one step further by actually blocking the nicotine receptors in your brain.  This is thought to cause your desire for a cigarette to diminish as well.

Whereas Zyban has the same active ingredient, bupropion, as does the antidepressant Wellbutrin and was originally prescribed for depression, Chantix was specifically developed to help smokers quit smoking cigarettes.

Some of the side effects of Chantix are nausea, changes in dreaming, constipation, gas and/or vomiting. In fact it is estimated that up to 30% of the people experience nausea when first beginning Chantix.

Some of the side effects of Zyban are headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, appetite changes, dizziness, andconfusion. And since this is an antidepressant drug, people under the age of 24 may experience suicide thoughts when first beginning.

Nicotine Based Medications that Help Stop Smoking

These products are designed to provide you with a controlled release of nicotine into your system.  This nicotine enters your bloodstream and finds its way to the receptors in your brain that are responsible for dopamine production.

This nicotine replacement therapy provides the nicotine that would be otherwise provided by a cigarette.  This enables you to slowly wean yourself from dependence on cigarettes that contain many harmful and dangerous toxins for both you and those around you.

These nicotine-based medications include gum, patches, nasal spray, lozenges, and inhaler.  All but the inhaler are available over-the-counter without a prescription and can be purchased at your pharmacy or more conveniently online.

There are pros and cons to both types of anti-smoking medications that help stop smoking so be sure to consult with your doctor or health care provider when you have made your decision to quit smoking and start beginning treatment.

Also keep in mind that a support group can greatly increase your chances of stopping smoking and can be an important factor in helping you to remain a non-smoker.

Back to the top of Medications That Help Stop Smoking