There are a number of drug therapies that can be used to assist people to quit smoking, and that have been well studied for safety and effectiveness. They include things like nicotine replacement therapy, veranda clean, or Champix or Chantix in the USA, bupropion or Zai. Ban site has been and although I never recommend electronic cigarettes, we will discuss those as well. In this video, we will focus on nicotine replacement therapy available as gum, lozenge, inhaler or patch. Please note that drug therapies do not make you quit, but they are very effective at reducing cravings and withdrawal which are the two biggest reasons people slip or relapse to smoke again, if you need to smoke within 30 minutes of waking up, you might likely benefit from having drug therapy available to assist with quitting. nicotine replacement therapy provides the nicotine it just doesn't expose you to all the other 4700 plus chemicals found in a list figure out the nicotine is definitely what gets people addicted though, and it is what keeps people smoking, but it is not what causes the harm to our bodies or causes the illness and disease caused by the smoking.

Mix nicotine replacement therapy or NRT is available in fast acting formulations, such as the gum, lozenge, and inhaler, and long acting formulations such as the patch. NRT, as I will call it has been shown to be safe and effective. Gum, lozenges and inhalers deliver nicotine through the mucous membranes in the mouth. And the amount of nicotine it delivers is less than a cigarette would. But it provides relief from cravings and withdrawal and nicotine from the patch is absorbed through the skin. A Cochrane systematic review of the center Tea literature found that all types of energy significantly increase the odds of quitting, with little difference between methods.

And our teas increased the rate of quitting by 50 to 70%, regardless of setting, and they can be used in combination to provide better control of cravings and withdrawal, and as a result better results. If you decide to add in nicotine gum, start by chewing a piece of gum every time you feel the urge to smoke. To reduce the occurrence of urges and minimize withdrawal symptoms. However, it probably is best to chew on a fixed schedule for the first month of therapy. For a person who smokes one pack per day, a schedule of one piece of gum per hour is recommended. The average number of pieces in the initial month of therapy should be between 10 and 12 pieces per day, and the maximum recommended daily dose is 20 pieces.

Once the first month is finished, a gradual tapering off should be started. In the second month, it's recommended to drop the dose to one piece every two to four hours, followed by a further down try titration in the third month of therapy to one piece every four to eight hours. As a point of reference, a pack a day smoker absorbs around 20 to 40 milligrams of nicotine in one day. And a piece of two milligram gum provides approximately one milligram of nicotine, while a piece of four milligram gum provides one and a half to two milligrams of nicotine. So if you smoked 20 cigarettes or less in a day, you could start with a two milligram gum. And if you smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day, it might be best to start with the formula gram gum.

The proper technique for chewing nicotine gum is shown in the package insert. But often the proper tuning technique is unknown when she would like regular gum there are more likely to be side effects like nausea, hiccups and dizziness. This is due to the nicotine being swallowed instead of absorbed through the lining of the mouth. So the proper technique is as follows. Bite the gum to break it down and start the release of nicotine until a tingle is felt in the mouth. Park in different places in the mouth to avoid irritation.

Park the gum between the cheek and the gums. And after the tingle subsides, which is usually in about one minute, chew or bite on the gum again until the tingle returns. Park the gum once again and repeat the whole process. After about 30 minutes the tingle does not return. That means the gun is dumb is no longer effective and you could spit it out and you want to park it in different places in the mouth to avoid irritation. And you may want to chew gum 30 minutes before a coffee break if coffee is a trigger It is best to not consume food or drink while chewing nicotine gum.

And this may interfere with the absorption of the nicotine and cause some unwanted side effects like hiccups or nausea. And it's best to avoid acidic beverages in particular, like coffee, tea, alcohol, soft drinks, or fruit juices 15 minutes before chewing a piece of gum. The patch gives relatively steady blood levels of nicotine, which reduce but don't eliminate cravings by releasing nicotine through the skin. It comes in three strings at 21 milligram, 14 milligram and seven milligram but you can see how a pack and a half a day smoker or two pack a day smoker may require more than one patch to control cravings. The goal is to start on a dose that closely matches the amount of nicotine obtained through smoking, and then reduce or titrate from there. Typically it's best to start at the high dose and then titrate down after a set amount of time until the patch is no longer needed and can be discontinued.

Each of the patches must be replaced daily or every 24 hours, and the ideal time to apply a new patch is at the beginning of the day's activities. This maximizes protection and reduces the risk of abnormal dreams through the night. The patch may be taken off after 16 hours, but then there may be a need to add in some a nicotine inhaler or gum or lozenge that works more quickly to relieve any cravings. Ideally, it's best to start with one low release NRT form like a patch, and then add on short acting NRT like the gum inhaler or lozenge for breakthrough cravings. If the patch partially or completely peels off the skin prior to the completion of the full dosing interval or the full 24 hours, it can be taped to The skin. The risk of this happening can be reduced by applying the patch to a clean, non hairy and completely dry patch of skin and then holding the patch between your hands to warm up the adhesive before you apply it.

In addition, you can also apply pressure to the patch for at least 10 seconds when putting it on the skin. And this can reduce the risk of detachment. In those that experience rash on the adhesive site, simply move the site around and add a little bit of mild hydrocortisone cream to clear up the rash. With the nicotine inhaler, nicotine is absorbed again through the lining of the mouth as mentioned through a mouthpiece. Nicotine is absorbed slower than if smoked, but in advantages that this provides the nicotine and tailor provides something to do with the hands. One cylinder gives about 20 minutes of puffing and you pop on it for about five to 10 minutes just like you would a cigarette Each puff delivers less nicotine than a cigarette would however, and it's also recommended that you walk out wash out the mouthpiece daily and avoid acidic beverages.

Again, the same is with the gum or lozenge. So ideally you'd start using the Nicorette inhaler on the quit day and start with six to 12 cartridges that day for the first three to 12 weeks. Gradually, you reduce over the another six to 12 weeks. And then when you're down to just one or two cartridges a day you can stop using the inhaler. They also recommend that you not use it for more than six months or 24 weeks. The nicotine lozenges available and a one two and four milligram strength.

The maximum daily dose is 25 of the one milligram lozenges, and 15 of the two and four milligram lozenges. The side effects are similar to what happens with the gum in that it can be a bit of lightheadedness. headache hiccups dry mouth. And this can be particularly useful for people with dentures or jaw problems that can't chew gum. If any of the following apply then it would be best to consult with a physician or pharmacist before using nicotine replacement therapy, things like unstable heart condition or angina, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and if you were under 18 years of age, NRT in all forms is usually purchased over the counter without a prescription. However, if you are unsure about whether the drug is right for you, which dose would provide the best control of cravings and withdrawal, and which formulation would be the best option.

Please discuss your plan with your pharmacist or physician or nurse practitioner, they can all assist with the choices so that you can obtain the best results with the least amount of side effects. Remember that cigarettes are a finely tuned drug delivery device and tobacco is a drug and so eliminating harmful drug with a drug that is safe and effective, like NRT and has undergone over 1000 clinical trials, especially if it effectively helps you to quit for good. Maybe a good idea. Again, it is always your choice. And so don't hesitate to discuss your thoughts or ideas about drug therapy with a health care provider first