Watch this video first - it will make you want to quit smoking immediately
If you have made the decision to stop smoking, be aware that there are many stop smoking aids and products
available that will help you make the transition from smoker to non-smoker much more easily. You will find many different stop smoking aids
available on the market that will help you to give up smoking for good. This will result in a dramatic increase in the quality of your life
and health and drastically reduce your risk of a smoking related disease.
As you may already know, a strong case has been made for quitting smoking and the stop smoking aids you will find on the market today makes
quitting smoking tobacco much easier than it has been in the past.
You will find that not all of these quit smoking aids are like. Some of these quit smoking aids contain nicotine and some of them are
nicotine free. However most of them are designed to ease or lessen your cravings for nicotine and the frequency and severity of the urge to
smoke a cigarette.
We will briefly look at some of the more common stop smoking aids that are available today. Some can be purchased over-the-counter but
some require a prescription.
We will briefly look at quit smoking aids such as nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine nasal sprays, nicotine inhalers, and nicotine
lozenges.
We will also talk about prescription Zyban stop smoking pills as well as natural stop smoking programs such as herbs that can help you stop
smoking without the use of nicotine such as the herbal patch and herbal liquid drops that use botanical herbs for stop smoking.
Nicotine Based Stop Smoking Aids
Nicotine Gum - this is a specially designed gum that is infused with nicotine. By chewing this gum slowly you are releasing nicotine
into your mouth a controlled rate. This nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth and into your bloodstream where it is then
carried to your brain.
The nicotine provided by this gum helps to alleviate the nicotine withdrawal symptoms that you experience while attempting to quit
smoking. Research has shown that the use of nicotine gum while quitting smoking will double your chances of quitting when compared with
going cold turkey.
Nicotine gum is available in 2 mg and 4 mg dosage sizes and can be purchased without a prescription over-the-counter at a pharmacy or more
conveniently online.
Nicotine Patch - like nicotine gum, the nicotine patch is designed to provide your body with a controlled release of nicotine. The
nicotine patch is applied to the skin like a bandage and through a transdermal process releases and nicotine through your skin and to your
brain.
The nicotine patch may be more convenient for some folks who find that chewing gum may interfere with dental work or for those folks for whom
chewing gum may be inconvenient or discouraged such as a place of business.
Like the gum, research has also found that you are twice as likely to quit using the patch as you would be going it alone cold turkey.
These patches are available in varying strengths, 7 mg, 14 mg and 21 mg, and are also available over the counter at your local pharmacy or
more conveniently online.
Nicotine Lozenges - like the nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges are infused with nicotine but instead of chewing, these lozenges are placed in
your mouth and allowed to dissolve like a piece of hard candy.
Like nicotine gum, the nicotine provided by these lozenges is absorbed through the lining of your mouth, into your bloodstream, and to your
brain.
Like the nicotine gum and the nicotine patches, lozenges are available in varying strengths, 2 mg and 4 mg, and are available over-the-counter
without a prescription.
Nicotine Nasal Spray - this spray is similar in use to be nasal spray you may use to help alleviate a stuffed nose or nasal congestion and is
sprayed into your nose in the same manner.
At this time you can only get the nasal spray through a prescription from your healthcare provider.
Nicotine Inhaler - the inhaler is similar to the cartridge type inhaler you may have seen those who have asthma use. The opening end of
the inhaler is placed between your lips and you inhale through your mouth as the cartridge is depressed.
As with the nicotine nasal spray, at this time the nicotine inhaler is only available by prescription from your healthcare provider.
Non Nicotine Based Stop Smoking Aids
Zyban - Zyban is prescription medication that is sometimes prescribed as a stop smoking aid. It is thought that Zyban works on nicotine
addiction biology by acting on the centers of the brain that control reward and withdrawal pathways.
Zyban contains the same active ingredient as does Wellbutrin, bupropion hydrochloride. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant and research has
shown that antidepressants can increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults, in short-term
studies of major depressive disorder.
It is recommended that Zyban, as a stop smoking aid, should be taken for up to eight weeks but no more than 12 weeks.
Chantix is another anti-smoking drug. Unlike Zyban, it is not an antidepressant but was originally developed as a stop smoking aid. Since
Chantix is not an antidepressant, ir does not come with the side effects that some antidepressants do.
Herbal Patch - like the nicotine patch, the herbal patch is applied to your skin like a bandage. But unlike the nicotine patch, the
herbal patch is designed to alleviate nicotine cravings using an all-natural blend of herbs. These herbs showed promise with reducing
stress and anxiety levels, help combat hunger and your irritability, and can also help to purge toxins from your body' system.
The herbal patch attempts to eliminate your need for nicotine without using nicotine and therefore reduces your chances of becoming addicted
to another form of nicotine delivery vehicle.
The herbal patch is available without a prescription.
Herbal Drops - like the herbal patch, nicotine drops are designed to alleviate the nicotine withdrawals and cravings you feel while quitting
smoking. And also like the herbal patch, this is done without using nicotine.
These drops are a combination of herbs that can help you stop smoking by helping your body combat depression, restlessness and anxiety often
associated with nicotine withdrawal. They can also help with hunger and sugar craving that is associated with nicotine withdrawal and that can
lead to weight gain.
Normally 10 to 15 drops are placed in one quarter glass of water or juice and consumed every couple of hours or so.
Herbal drops are available without a prescription.
Hypnosis - another of the stop smoking aids that may seem a bit unconventional is stop smoking hypnosis. Hypnosis can be quite effective for
those folks who have a serious desire and ambition to give up their cigarette habit.
Hypnosis is nothing more than repeated suggestions to your subconscious mind while you are in a state of deep relaxation. Stop smoking
hypnosis can be nothing more than regular and repeated listenings to a tape or CD that can be purchased online.
No matter what stop smoking program you and your healthcare provider determine is best for you, keep in mind that for any of these stop
smoking aids or stop smoking programs to be effective, they must begin with a motivated and ambitious YOU! Your anti-tobacco campaign must
be supplied with a healthy dose of self motivation!
