Nicotine replacement aids, Chantix and Zyban – Your guide to quit smoking

The best quit smoking aid is your own will and determination. You have to be motivated and committed enough to kick the habit, otherwise no quit smoking aid can help you. If you are ready to quit, any of the quit smoking aids might work well for you. Most of the quit smoking aids are so designed that they help people quit smoking gradually. Choosing one that is right for you is essentially a matter of preference, barring any medical concerns you might have. It is therefore a good idea to check with your doctor about a quit smoking aid that will work best for you.

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) which include nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers, nicotine patches as well as nicotine lozenges provide you with a measured dose of nicotine to help ease the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Unlike cigarettes, NRTs contain only nicotine, which when used as directed, allow you to withdraw from the debilitating effects of nicotine by gradually reducing the amount in each dose. Get quit smoking help online for free.

The nicotine patch resembles a square tan or clear bandage. The size depends on the dosage and brand used, but generally it is a square piece of about 1-2 inches. The nicotine patch provides a steady, controlled dose of nicotine throughout the day; the patch strength is reduced over time, helping you wean off of nicotine gradually. The nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers and nicotine lozenges have a similar mechanism of action as the nicotine patch. But as the nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers, nicotine lozenges and the patch contain nicotine – the addictive component in tobacco – a certain risk of re-addiction is involved. However, when used with care, it can be a safe and comfortable way to quit smoking.

Quit smoking aids like Chantix and Zyban available now do not use nicotine as an active ingredient. Bupropion hydrochloride, marketed under the names Zyban, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL by GlaxoSmithKline, is an anti-depressant drug that also works as a smoking cessation aid. It has been shown to reduce physical withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine.

Discovered and developed by Pfizer, varenicline tartrate is marketed by the name of Chantix, which has the unique ability to partially activate nicotinic receptors in the brain, reducing nicotine craving in people who have quit smoking. Additionally, if a person does smoke during the treatment, Chantix impedes any kind of satisfaction gained from smoking by blocking the nicotine receptors.

Quit Smoking: For a good cause

If you are thinking about quitting, then you are on the right track. Smoking is injurious to ones health is there is a statutory warning that is written on every pack of cigarettes. Still smoking is the most common habit among people worldwide.

Why to quit smoking?

It’s very important you evaluate all the pros of quit smoking and cons of smoking before deciding about the quit smoking date. Just list the health benefits that you will get after quitting smoking. Not only health benefits think about the financial benefits as well.

There are numerous health benefits that are associated with quitting smoking successfully. You will feel healthier than before with better concentration levels. Your sense of smell and taste will get better and the food you eat will be tastier. By quitting and not smoking again, you can set an example and become a role model for your friends, family, children, and even co-workers.

The immediate effects of quitting smoking are generally hard to overcome for most of the smokers. The withdrawal symptoms and strong cravings for nicotine can make their life difficult. But with the help of any suitable quit smoking aids, these symptoms can be reduced.

What are the ways to quit smoking?

There are many ways that can help you quit smoking once for all. If you are a strong willed person, you can go cold turkey way. Generally, most people opt for nicotine replacement therapies to reduce their cravings for nicotine and withdrawal symptoms after they quit smoking. The small doses of nicotine are injected through patches, gums, nasal sprays, and lozenges to help them reduce these symptoms. But there are drawbacks of nicotine therapy, as most people revert to smoking after some time.

The nicotine free treatments can be quite helpful, as these don’t inject any trace of nicotine in any form. A few examples of nicotine free treatment for quit smoking include Zyban and Chantix.

Zyban helps to reduce the physical withdrawal symptoms that appear after quitting smoking. But another drug, Chantix can help to reduce the withdrawal symptoms as well as string nicotine cravings. Chantix is available in the US where you can get it on a valid prescription of a doctor only.

Chantix is a quit smoking medication that can help you quit but you should take it under proper medical care. It is quite different from other quit smoking aids and effective as well. Chantix works in two ways – it targets nicotine receptors in the brain and blocks nicotine from reaching them. It mimics the effects of nicotine, thus activating the receptors without actually providing them any trace of nicotine.

Chantix is a useful treatment but you should start it about a week before you actually stop smoking. This will provide a type of build up in the body for a long treatment with Chantix that is generally recommended for a period of 12 weeks. The results can be quite visible during the end of treatment itself, but for people who still get the cravings for cigarettes may be asked to repeat the treatment for another 12 weeks.

How to quit smoking?

Many regular smokers may find it difficult to quit using the ‘cold turkey’ method, without the help of any external aid. It is quite natural because not all are equally strong willed to overcome the effects of withdrawal symptoms and strong nicotine cravings. However, there are some effective quit smoking aids that can help you to quit, provided you have made up your mind. Before taking any suitable quit smoking aid, you should do a little bit of homework.

You can prepare a personal quit smoking plan and decide upon your quit smoking date, afterwards which you won’t smoke at all. You have to prepare your mind for a life as a non-smoker, for which you should make a list of pros and cons of smoking. You should get motivation from whichever way it comes, not to smoke again. You can even take support from your friends, family members, and the GP.

Effects of Smoking

Do you know that one or two cigarettes a day are enough to cause lung cancer? Smoking has become the leading cause of preventable deaths among people worldwide. It is associated to many serious diseases that are preventable.

Apart from lung cancer, smoking can cause cancers of the bladder, mouth, stomach, kidneys, and cervix. It can also cause other conditions such as diabetes, peptic ulcers, vision problems and even back pain.

Smoking can cause health risks among women. It can increase the risk of heart disease among women smokers. This risk increases by 30 times if they combine smoking with any contraceptive pill. Smoking can also cause early ageing. Both men and women smokers are exposed to early wrinkles and thinning of the skin.

QUIT SMOKING NOW – YOUR HEALTH AND LONGETIVITY DEPEND ON IT

Smoking strongly associated with diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, pregnancy complications, and poor health. Because trying to Quit Smoking is one of the most difficult of tasks, many will simply sustain the habit. However, with determination, quit smoking help, and an extensive range of quit smoking drugs, the transition can be made easier.

Many smokers will try a number of times to quit smoking before they are actually successful. This is due to the highly addictive properties. In addition, perceived risks like weight gain, increased stress levels, and the damaging of relationships with fellow smokers, can also limit the motivation to quit, thus resulting in a lower chance of success.

The ability to quit smoking is one of the most important things you will ever acquire for a host of fundamental reasons:

o You will extend your life span
o Your risk for developing heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and stroke will diminish
o Your family will no longer be forced to passive smoke
o Your over -all health will be markedly improved
o You will have improved senses of smell and taste
o You will save money

You will have a better chance of success, if you enlist for quit smoking help such as:

o Gaining the support of family members
o Requesting for close friends and family, who smoke- not to do so around you and not to leave cigarettes lying around
o Identifying the kind of quit smoking help that your local hospital or health care center will provide
o Consulting your doctor
o Resisting temptation
o Setting a new date and recommencing, upon relapse

In addition help when attempting to quit smoking can also be sought in the form of:

o Group therapy: Involves attending meetings and counseling sessions with support groups
o Hypnosis: Through the use of audio tapes or CDs that contain anti-smoking material
o Acupuncture: An ancient Chinese art that involves pricking needles into certain body parts to stimulate nerve endings
o Laser therapy: Working on the basis of acupuncture, low intensity lasers replace the needles
o Quit Smoking Drug: Addresses depression and cravings that go with Quit Smoking
o Cessation shots: serve as a medication but will work in a shorter time frame
o Nicotine gums or patches: Release small doses of nicotine into the body
o Non-tobacco cigarettes: Replace tobacco with other herbs
o Herbal cures: Work to calm the mind and relax the body

How to Quit Smoking Successfully?

Quit Smoking Successfully

Everyone knows that smoking is a deadly, expensive habit. The bad news is that people start it when they are too young to know better, then find themselves with a hard habit to break. The good news is that many people have kicked the habit, and if you really want to, you can, too.

First, it's all right to wean yourself off cigarettes over a period of weeks, but you must decide from the start that your ultimate goal is no smoking at all. If you manage to quit completely for a few weeks and then decide just to have a puff, there is a good chance that all your desire for cigarettes will come back with a vengeance. Once you give them up, hang onto that clean feeling for good!

It might help you to do some journaling about your attitude toward smoking. Just why would you like to quit? There are many reasons. Which ones mean the most to you? Do you want to save money by no longer having to feel compelled to buy cigarettes? Are you more interested in avoiding cancer? Do you want to have stronger lungs for physical activities, so you're not always huffing and puffing? List those reasons and refer to your list often as you battle it out.

It's estimated that the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are usually over by the time you've been off cigarettes for a month. In fact, they might only last a week or two. If you can remember this, you can encourage yourself to tough it out when the symptoms are bad. It won't last forever. Things will get better, and you'll eventually feel great!

Get some support. Maybe you'd like to join an online group that features message boards populated by others who are in the process of kicking the habit. Or maybe you can quit with a friend or family member. Support always helps when trying to change an ingrained habit. You may even be able to find a telephone counseling hotline you can call when you are severely tempted.

It helps to choose a quit date and make it stick. While you are cutting back, there are some definite things you can do to help make the resolution a reality. For one thing, try smoking a different brand of cigarettes. Make yourself smoke a lower tar brand that you don't really like. If you're smoking a brand with less nicotine, make sure you don't just smoke more cigarettes.

Here are a few more tips for quitting smoking. When you've reached your quit day, spend some time in the local library, museum, or other places where you wouldn't be allowed to smoke anyway. Exercising, drinking water, and staying busy are all good ways to stay healthy and distracted. You can fiddle with a pencil or something if you miss having a cigarette to handle.

You can do it! Just don't give up. Watch out for situational smoking cues, like when you sit down with a cup of coffee, or when you've just finished a meal. Change your tactics. Get up and start cleaning the table off instead of lighting up that after dinner smoke. The trial won't last forever and you'll be so glad you joined the ranks of non-smokers.