According to the American Cancer Society, quitting smoking is not an easy thing to do, but it can be done. It is difficult to quit smoking because the nicotine in tobacco is an extremely addictive substance. If you have been smoking regularly for a significant length of time and then suddenly stop, within hours after your last cigarette you will begin to experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms. These can last a few days to several weeks and may include dizziness, depression, anxiety, increased appetite, weight gain and irritability, says the American Cancer Society. There are prescription medications available in pill form that can alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
Varenicline (Chantix)
Varenicline is an oral prescription medication that is used to help people quit smoking, says Drugs.com. Varenicline works by binding to nicotine receptors in the brain, thereby preventing the nicotine in cigarettes from producing its pleasurable effects on the smoker. The adult oral dose during the first week of treatment is 0.5mg once a day for the first three days and 0.5mg twice a day for the next four days. For the remaining 11 weeks of treatment, the dose is 1mg twice daily. According to Drugs.com, an additional 12-week treatment regimen may increase the probability that you will achieve long-term abstinence from cigarette smoking. Side effects of varenicline are usually transient and may include headache, insomnia, abnormal dreams, nausea, fatigue and flatulence.
Bupropion (Zyban)
According to the Mayo Clinic, bupropion is an oral prescription medication that can help you stop smoking. The oral adult dose is 150mg once a day for the first three days, and then if necessary your doctor may increase the dose up to 300mg a day. Doses should be taken at least 8 hours apart and may be taken with or without food. You may continue smoking during the first week of treatment, but you should stop sometime during the second week. If you have not been able to stop smoking after seven weeks on the medication, you should talk to your doctor, says the Mayo Clinic. You should be aware that your blood pressure may increase while you are on bupropion, and this may cause blurred vision and headache. If you experience these symptoms, you should call your doctor immediately. Other side effects of bupropion include agitation, anxiety, abdominal pain, decrease in appetite, dizziness and dry mouth.
Clonidine (Catapres)
Medline Plus says that clonidine is an oral medication that was originally prescribed for the treatment of high blood pressure, but it can also be used to help you quit smoking. You will generally take two or three 0.1mg doses of clonidine a day with the same time interval between each dose. Your doctor may increase this dose if necessary up to 0.6mg a day. You should be aware that clonidine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting if you stand up too quickly after lying down, notes Medline Plus. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, dry mouth and weakness.
