1. Treat Nicotine Addiction as a Drug Addiction
Experts say that nicotine addiction should be considered and treated just like cocaine or heroin addiction and alcoholism. Nicotine replacement therapy and medications like bupropion, varenicline, nortriptyline and clonidine can increase your chances of quitting. Nicotine replacement products include nicotine transdermal patch systems, nicotine nasal spray and nicotine delivery through the oral mucosa, including gum, lozenges, sublingual tablets and vapor inhalers. All keep you off tobacco products such as cigarettes and control withdrawal symptoms. A treatment program should be tailored to your needs and demands, and your medical and mental health, and include a follow-up program to ensure a nicotine-free life. Your doctor might use medications to help re-establish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings throughout the treatment process.
2. Behave Yourself
A psychiatrist may prescribe behavioral treatments in an effort to help you change your attitudes and behaviors related to drug abuse. In fact, behavioral treatments have the effect of enhancing the medications you take so you comply with your doctor's prescription orders. While most programs offer individual or group counseling, the outpatient visits may include specifics such as cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy puts "muscle into your brain" by helping you recognize, avoid and cope with situations you associate with your nicotine addiction. Multidimensional family therapy looks at nicotine addiction patterns of adolescents and what can help them and their families. You may also run into motivational interviewing, which makes you ready to change your behavior and receive treatment. Sometimes motivational incentives may be offered to encourage abstinence from nicotine.
3. Combine Meds With Counseling
Combining pharmacotherapy with counseling may be necessary to treat your nicotine addiction. Research has indicated that vaccines such as CYT002-NicQb from Switzerland may effectively combat your cravings. CYT002-NicQb evokes an immune response during which antibodies bind with nicotine to inhibit the introduction of nicotine to the brain. Nicotine activity within the brain and the craving for nicotine diminishes; relapses rarely occur once you quit. NicVax from Nabi Pharmaceuticals produces a similar effect by enhancing the body's immunity to nicotine. Enrolling in an appropriate clinical trial may be another option. Many companies distribute new medications free to test their efficacy. Counseling and psychological therapy also may help you overcome this addiction. Ask your doctor if these or other solutions are right for you, and remember that it's unlikely that any one pill can treat all your symptoms.
