Smoking Cessation Methods - How To Quit Smoking: Smoking Cessation
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Smoking cessation methods
Smoking is a difficult habit to break, as it involves both physical and behavioral addiction. Physically, your brain becomes dependent on nicotine, but effective medications are available to help your body deal with this. Behaviors, including rituals, habits, and social interactions, are also hard to change, but special behavioral therapy techniques and support groups can help you make these changes. These and many other resources are available to help you in your quest to stop smoking. The American Lung Association offers a free online smoking cessation program called Freedom From Smoking (www.ffsonline.org). Other organizations are listed in "Resources."
Medications. Three types of medications can help you stop smoking: nicotine replacement therapies, bupropion, and varenicline (see Table 1). Nicotine replacement therapies help you with the withdrawal aspect of smoking, reducing cravings by giving your body nicotine, but without the tar and poisonous gases found in cigarette smoke. Nicotine gum, lozenges, and patches are sold over the counter, and nicotine inhalers and sprays are available by prescription. Bupropion is a non-nicotine prescription antidepressant that helps reduce the desire to smoke. A non-nicotine drug, varenicline, was approved by the FDA in May 2006. This prescription medication acts on nicotine receptors in the brain to both reduce cravings and decrease the brain's "reward" from smoking.
Table 1: Top smoking cessation medications | |||
| The U.S. surgeon general has identified these medications as first-line treatments for quitting smoking. | |||
| Medication | How it works | How to use it | Side effects |
| Bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Zyban) | This prescription antidepressant medication helps reduce the desire to smoke. | It takes three to four weeks to reach maximum effectiveness. Do not stop taking the drug suddenly or without consulting your doctor. | Agitation, change in appetite, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, and insomnia. More serious side effects can occur if you have a seizure disorder. May have adverse interactions with other drugs, including other antidepressants. |
| Nicotine gum | This over-the-counter preparation supplies a low dose of nicotine to help reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. | Chew a piece of gum every hour or two during the day for one to three months. Chew it slowly until it tastes peppery. Keep the gum in your mouth for 30 minutes. | Hiccups, upset stomach, sore jaws. |
| Nicotine inhaler | This cigarette-shaped medication cartridge, available by prescription, supplies a low dose of nicotine as you puff to help reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. | Inhale from the cartridge when you feel the urge for a cigarette. Don't use more than 16 cartridges a day for 12 weeks. | Irritation of the mouth and throat, coughing. These side effects usually go away once you get used to the inhaler. |
| Nicotine lozenges | These over-the-counter lozenges supply a low dose of nicotine to reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. | Suck a lozenge every hour or two during the day or as needed. | Upset stomach. |
| Nicotine patch | This over-the-counter preparation supplies a low dose of nicotine to help reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. | Place a new patch on your torso daily. To prevent skin irritation, put it in a different spot between the neck and waist each day. | Mild rash at the site where the patch was placed. |
| Nicotine spray | This spray, available by prescription, supplies a low dose of nicotine to help reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. | Spray once in each nostril at least eight times a day (about once or twice an hour while you are awake). | Nasal irritation, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat. You may not be able to use it if you have hay fever or a sinus infection because of the risk of nasal irritation. |
| Varenicline (Chantix) | This prescription medication acts on nicotine receptors in the brain to reduce withdrawal symptoms and decrease the pleasurable effect of cigarettes. | Tablets are taken twice a day for 12 weeks. If you successfully quit smoking during this initial treatment period, you may continue taking the medication for 12 more weeks. | Nausea, headache, vomiting, flatulence, insomnia, abnormal dreams, change in taste perception. |
Counseling and support groups. Behavioral therapy can increase your odds of quitting still more. Behavioral therapy includes group counseling and one-on-one contact — even if this contact is nothing more than a series of regular phone calls — with people who have quit and can motivate you to do so, too. The more frequently you get such social support, the better your chances of being smoke-free over the long term.
To further ensure your chances of success, the American Lung Association advises picking a good time to quit (when you're not under a lot of stress) and incorporating exercise, sleep, healthy diet, and lots of water into your life.
In addition to lowering your risk of developing COPD, quitting smoking benefits your body in many ways, almost immediately. After just 20 minutes, your blood pressure decreases, and after 24 hours, your chance of having a heart attack goes down as well. After 5 years, your odds of having a stroke are the same as for people who have never smoked, and after 10 years, your risk of developing lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas cancers all go down. For women planning to conceive, the most effective way to protect the fetus is to quit smoking. Older women who smoke have a higher risk of hip fractures, as they have a lower bone density than those who have never smoked.
It is never too late to stop smoking. Quitting at age 60, 50, 40, or 30 respectively adds 3, 6, 9, or 10 years to life expectancy. Your doctor can design a plan with you to give you the best chance of kicking the habit.
| Last updated: | May 23, 2007 |
|---|
Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, Use of Content Agreement and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.
Search
Related Articles
Where Does it Hurt?
If you're experiencing aches and pains we can help you find answers. Find out what your symptoms mean for your health.
