Approximately 26.2 million men and 20.9 million women are smokers (2006), according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The habit is not only expensive; it is dangerous to your health. Smokers have increased risks of heart attacks and strokes. Quitting smoking, however, is complicated and may take several attempts. A host of resources are available to assist smokers in quitting, which may ease the burden. Newer stop smoking medications are among those resources and may be helpful for reducing the inevitable cravings.
NRTs
A combination of tactics is proven to work best when attempting to quit smoking, according to the AHA. Over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like patches, lozenges and gums can be combined with other therapies for increased results. Using a NRT can increase your chances of quitting successfully by up to 90 percent (when using a nicotine patch). Nicotine nasal sprays may also be effective but are not available over-the-counter. These sprays can boost the success rate when quitting by 170 percent.
Bupropion
Bupropion (Zyban), is an antidepressant that may help smokers deal with the stress associated with quitting and can be taken orally. Both nicotine replacement products and bupropion work by stimulating the release of low levels of dopamine and other chemicals in the brain, reducing withdrawal symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. When using bupropion, you can increase your chances of quitting by 110 percent, according to the AHA.
Chantix
Chantix (varenicline) is a newer prescription drug (in 2009) that may help smokers by blocking the effect of nicotine on the brain. In smokers, the brain is influenced by nicotine receptors, which increases chemicals like dopamine, which can improve your mood. Quitting reduces these chemicals, causing irritability, insomnia, inability to concentrate and other withdrawal effects. Chantix not only stimulates the release of dopamine, it also blocks nicotine receptors, making smoking less appealing and pleasurable. Chantix should be taken a week before your quit date with a gradual increase in the dosage to reduce the medication's side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
All of the above medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription can cause side effects. Talk to your doctor about the advantages of prescription medications. A pharmacist can provide guidance for over-the-counter methods like NRTs.
