The American Cancer Society quotes the United States Surgeon General as saying, "Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives." Quitting smoking is also difficult, which is why there are so many methods and options available to help smokers quit. It is a matter of finding the right method for you.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
The American Cancer Society states that lack of success is often due to the withdrawal symptoms felt when one attempts to quit. This is because the nicotine found in cigarettes leads to a physical dependence; when you deprive your body of this drug, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms occur which lead to incessant cravings, causing you to falter. In fact, 70 to 90 percent of smokers state that these cravings are the only reason for not quitting.
Nicotine replacement therapy helps reduce these cravings, thus reducing withdrawal symptoms. The exact percentage varies per person and the type of therapy chosen. Nicotine replacement is available in the form of patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers and sprays. All of these release various amounts of nicotine into your system, however they do not contain the cancer-causing agents that cigarettes do. At this time, it is recommended by the manufacturers of these products that you do not smoke while using these products, as these release too much nicotine into your system. In addition, this type of therapy is less likely to be effective for light smokers, or those who smoke fewer than 10 cigarettes per day. All of these are available by prescription from a doctor or over-the counter at a pharmacy.
Prescription Medications
In some cases, prescription medications may be used to help you in your attempts to kick your smoking habit. This method varies from nicotine replacement in that the medications do not contain nicotine, but rather affect the chemicals in the brain that control nicotine cravings. The two most commonly prescribed medications are bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix).
Bupropion affects the chemicals in the brain that cause nicotine cravings, reducing your cravings and increasing your chances of quitting. The usual dose is two 150mg tablets a day and, according to the American Cancer Society, it is recommended that you begin taking this medication one to two weeks before the arrival of your quit date, as this appears to make the medication work more effectively. It can also be used in combination with forms of nicotine replacement therapy such as the patch, gum or lozenges.
Varenicline varies slightly from bupropion in that it interferes with the nicotine receptors in the brain. This helps you quit smoking in more ways than one. First it reduces withdrawal symptoms, and second, it reduces the feelings of pleasure you would normally experience from smoking. Just as with bupropion, you can smoke during the initial phase of your treatment, and its dosage is increased over the first eight days. When you reach your second week, you will take a 1mg pill in the morning and at night, remaining on this dose for a period of 12 weeks.
Behavioral Therapy
HelpGuide states that nicotine addiction is as much behavioral as it is physical; therefore, undergoing behavioral therapy in combination with the aforementioned physical treatments can increase your chances of quitting success.
The Lung Association states that you can receive counseling in person or over the phone. Should you choose to undergo behavioral therapy in person, ask your doctor about behavioral therapy groups in your area set up specifically for smoking cessation.
If you choose to undergo counseling over the phone, a variety of smoking cessation help lines exist which are prepared to help you succeed with trained professionals. They help you set goals, discover your reasons for smoking and guide you through the quitting process. These counselors even check back with you periodically, as often as you choose, to find out how you are doing and assist you over any hurdles you may be experiencing.
