According to the National Cancer Institute, tobacco is the strongest cancer-causing agents and leads to about 438,000 smoking-related deaths each year. Smoking is most know for causing lung cancer, but it also increases the risk of other cancers like those of the pancreas, throat, oral, bladder, cervix and kidney. Quitting smoking is difficult, but there are some medications out there to help with smoking cessation.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy consists of patches, gums, lozenges, inhalers and nasal spray. According to Smokefree.gov these medications are designed to help reduce the withdrawals and craving sensations when quitting smoking. The goal is to reduce the amount of nicotine in the body gradually to none at all. Patches, gums and lozenges are available by prescription and can also be bought over the counter, while only inhalers and nasal sprays are available by prescription.
Treatment Medications
Bupropion, also known as Zyban, is a drug used to help reduce the withdrawals feelings from nicotine and reduce cravings. According to Smokefree.gov, buproprion can be safely used by with nicotine replacement therapy. Another med is varenicline, which is also known as Chantix. It functions in the body to reduce withdrawal symptoms and block the effect of nicotine. These meds are only available by doctors prescription.
Smoking Cessation Side Effects of Medications
Smokefree.gov lists nortriptyline and clonidine, which are both medications that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for quitting smoking, have been found to help with smoking cessation. Nortriptyline is usually used to treat depression, and clonidine is usually used to high blood pressure.
Clinic Trials
There are many trials out there evaluating the best behavioral and medication practices to help people quit smoking. Naltrexone is a medication being evaluated in clinical trials to see if it helps people quit smoking by reducing cravings for cigarettes and preventing relapses. Naltrexone is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for opiate and alcohol cessation.
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
According to the American Cancer Society, quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancers and other types of cancers. Not smoking also reduces the risk of diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), macular degradation leading to blindness and erectile dysfunction in men, as well as reduces the risk of heart attack and helps with blood pressure. Quitting smoking can also help improve breath, sense of taste, sense of smell and oral health.
