Nicotine Replacement Therapy

[drjoe]

Hi everyone, It's time for me to share something here. I've read many articles on ways to quit smoking and I want to summarize here for people who would like to stop smoking.

There are many replacement therapies available|:

1. Nicotine Gum
Heavy smokers found it easier to give up smoking if they took the stronger, 4mg rather than the weaker 2mg version of the gum. It also might be slightly more effective when combined with nicotine patches.

2. Nicotine Patches
Again, heavy smokers seem find it easier using higher dose patches, 25mg then lower dose ones. There is some evidence that combining patches with gum might also improve things slightly.

3. Microtabs, Lozenges, Nicotine Nasal Spray and Inhalers
It has been speculated that any differences in the effectiveness of these might be largely due to personal preference: some people prefer a snort while others like to have a lozenges to suck.

4. Zyban
This antidepressant Zyban (bupropion) has been shown to double the chances of giving up smoking. The success rate is about the sane as NRT

5. Acupuncture
While acupuncture is often used as an aid to stop smoking, the evidence for its effectiveness is mixed.

6. Hypnotherapy
This is possibly effective.

In the Pipeline
There are at least two other anti-smoking drugs in the pipeline. Rimonobant, already available for weight loss, was originally developed as anti-smoking pill and may still get approval for this use. Varenicline, which is alreday licensed in the United States in currently being assessed by the US National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Trials suggest it might be more effective than bupropion.

[amanda]

Chantix - tablets: cutting the pleasure of smoking. Reducing the withdrawal symptoms that lead smokers to light up again and again.

[Reezone]

hey thanks for these info! I'd like to add em in my blog. Can I do that & link back to your thread DrJoe?