Thursday, November 13, 2008

Nicotine replacement therapy, is it right for me?

By Kimberley Steffano

The whole idea behind nicotine replacement therapy is that it gives your body a small amount of nicotine to help curb the cravings. This small amount helps to keep the withdrawals to a minimum. Keep in mind though that nicotine replacement therapy will cause you to go through withdrawals twice. First when you quit smoking then when you stop the therapy. You do not need to see a doctor to get this form of therapy.

Many people can find this very difficult, especially the second time around as that old familiar edgy feeling comes back and you basically have to go through a milder form of withdrawals for the next three days. People aren't really prepared for that second wave of withdrawal and often have a hard time letting go of the nicotine replacement therapy. Those that can, have made a very important step to becoming smoke free and changing their lifestyle.

There are many methods of nicotine replacement therapy; the patch is the most commonly used. Normally you will start with a higher dose and gently work your way down over a 6 to 12 week period of time. Side effects are common as the amount delivered in the 24 hour period is often too much for the body to handle.

The feeling of nausea and breaking out in a cold sweat is one of the side effects associated with using the patch. Often, this is an indication that the dose of the patch you are wearing is too high for your system and you can either try a lower dose patch the next day or it might be wise if you to look into a different form of nicotine replacement therapy. Although many people have used this with great success, everybody's body chemistry is different and yours may not be adapted to this form of nicotine replacement therapy.

There are several forms of nicotine replacement therapy, the patch is no longer your only option. Nicotine gum now has improved in flavor and lacks that pepper taste that used to linger in your mouth. You don't have to worry about feeling sick due to the taste, because now the nicotine gum comes in fruit flavors. The dosage schedule is controlled by you depending on your withdrawal symptoms.

Another form of nicotine replacement therapy is the lozenge, which is available in an assortment of flavors. These tablets will dissolve slowly in your mouth sending a low dose of nicotine to your body. The tablets usually work for 2 to 4 hours, but you can adjust your dosage schedule depending on your need. It's possible that you will have some type of secondary withdrawal as you slowly sever your ties to the lozenge. Being smoke free is worth it in the end.

Another method of nicotine replacement therapy is the nicotine inhaler. It is a good method for anyone who needs to have something in their hand, a common problem among smokers. The inhaler sends a low dose of nicotine to your system which helps deter the cravings. I do not have first hand experience with the inhaler, but I have heard from several people who have been successful with it.

There are nicotine replacement options available without a prescription and readily accessible at any corner drugstore or supermarket. You will still have to expect to pay quite a bit for over the counter therapy. But many of the products provide online support and forums, which help keep you in touch with other people who are trying to quit smoking.

As mentioned before, some of the side effects of nicotine replacement therapy can range from: a slight headache, insomnia, to more severe symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea or constipation. Some of the side effects tend to be temporary, if they are too much you may want to think about changing your dose or about looking into other smoking cessation options, such as non- nicotine based medication. - 15359

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