Thursday, February 5, 2009

Stop Smoking - Products That Make Quitting Easier

By Ralph Ferriss

Smokers who want to quit can use products that make the process easier. If you want to be one of the only 6% of smokers who succeed at quitting on their first attempt, using one of these products can help.

One of the most popular products is the nicotine patch. It provides a steady, slow release of nicotine that helps reduce the craving to smoke. The nicotine slowly makes its way into the bloodstream through the skin.

Like any stop smoking aid, it has its pros and cons.

The nicotine patch can be used without other people noticing, since you can attach it anywhere between your waist and neck. Most patches need to be changed daily. These patches can cause irritation on the application site. For this reason, it is best to change the position of the patch at least once every two weeks.

Nicotine gum is another common method that, like patches, is available without a prescription. But it does require chewing in a careful manner. It should be massaged with the teeth in one spot until a peppery taste is sensed. Then it's held between the cheek and gum until the taste or tingle disappears. The cycle is repeated every half hour until the gum is used up.

Lozenges work in a very similar fashion. Lozenges act quickly and you have some control over the dosage. They come in 2-4 mg dosage tablets and more than one per day can be used, up to about 24 pieces. But, like chewing regular gum, they can fatigue the jaw. Because of the special technique required, they're less effective if not used properly. They can cause nausea, especially if accidentally swallowed.

Other individuals whose desire it is to quit smoking opt to use a nicotine inhaler. This method lets you decide how much nicotine you want to take it and gives you a feeling similar to that of smoking when you inhale. It also involves the use of your hand like cigarette smoking does. People with COPD or asthma should not use a nicotine inhaler. You should also use caution because it is easy to overdose with this product.

Similar to inhalers are nicotine nasal sprays. The sinuses and the nasal passages can become irritated when using a nasal spray. An advantage, though, is that the nicotine enters the bloodstream very quickly with this product.

Instead of breaking your addiction to nicotine, these products supply the body with it. Although these products may help you to quit, there are nicotine-free methods.

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