Quit Smoking Help » Products to Stop Smoking

Nicotine Inhalers and Nasal Sprays

Quit Smoking Author — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:57:42 +0000

Nicotine inhalers and nasal sprays are nicotine replacement products that have one special advantage over other similar devices, used to quit smoking: they not only release nicotine that abates withdrawal symptoms in the user but create the illusion of actual smoking, which is a very important psychological prop for those who want to give up the bad habit.

The nicotine inhaler usually consists of a mouthpiece and a replaceable canister which contains nicotine. Is use is simple: you just draw on the mouthpiece which will release a small amount of nicotine in your mouth and sate your cravings to smoke.
Similarly simple is the use of the nasal spray: all you have to do is lean your head backwards, place the spray tip in the back of your nostril, and press firmly and quickly; you may want to puff some nicotine in your other nostril as well.
An important feature of these aids is that since you have to hold the devices when applying them, your hands will be busy, too.

How many times per day you should use the products depends on several factors: first, your general health condition; second, the level of your dependency on cigarettes; third, the stage you are in your smoking cessation program (experts usually recommend 12-week programs, with gradual reduction of the nicotine intake); fourth, the specifics of the product you are using which should be listed in its instructions.

One very important fact to remember is that you should not smoke during your therapy or you run the risk of getting some dangerous nicotine overdose. Some of the symptoms associated with nicotine overdosing are nausea, vomiting, headaches, stomach pains, dizziness and cold sweats. Seek medical attention if you have any of them.
And, in general, in order to reduce the risk of any unwanted side effects and make the most of the cessation therapy, it is highly recommended that you consult a pharmacist or your GP before you start using nicotine inhalers or nasal sprays.

What Is Nicotine Gum?

Quit Smoking Author — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:48:14 +0000

Nicotine is a chemical in the tobacco products that interacts with the human brain and causes strong addiction. The use of tobacco products such as cigarettes or cigars allows the nicotine to move through the human body. In smaller doses, nicotine has desirable properties such as increased awareness, feeling of pleasure and better short-term memory. Yet nowadays, nicotine is a well-known addictive drug that is hard to give up. Doctors continue to warn us that smoking increases heart diseases and leads to various cancer diseases, skin disorders, and other conditions.

The nicotine gum is a form of nicotine replacement therapy, such as chewing gum, which delivers nicotine to the body. It is used to aid people who attempt to quit while chewing a gum, whenever they feel the need to smoke. It contains small amounts of nicotine which help people to combat cravings and gives the smokers something to do, different than holding a cigarette in their mouth. In practice, the gum delivers nicotine to the bloodstream via absorption by the tissues of the mouth, (i.e. using saliva itself) which makes the body think that person is actually smoking. However, because the gum contains nicotine, it has a peppery taste and may cause tingling sensation, while people chew it. Sometimes, people experience discomfort while chewing the nicotine gum, such as increased saliva, indigestion, jaw muscle aches or headache. These side effects should disappear with time.

Nevertheless, another issue is its proper use. It is important to chew the gum slowly because if you do it too fast, other side effects occur: vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats and even insomnia. You should be careful and watch yourself closely because sometimes, the symptoms are not side effects, but symptoms of an allergic reaction. Therefore, the use of the nicotine chewing gum should cease immediately. There is also a certain daily amount of gums to be chewed as to make the therapy work. In addition, you should not exceed the permissible dose in order to keep your health.

If you are truly decided to stop smoking, it is better to consult with your doctor or pharmacist in order to choose the product that suit you best. You should take your time to consider some precautions and continue the treatment without interruption. In order to make quitting comparatively nice task, medical companies that produce nicotine gums have made significant efforts to give it a nice taste and consistency. The standard nicotine gum is a small stick that comes in a variety of flavors, depending on the prefererred tastes. Some brands of popular nicotine gums are Orbit, Bubble Yum, Trident, Bazooka, Super Bubble, Carefree, Freedent, etc. Here is the good news: some types of gums are designed specifically for dental hygiene. These gums are multi-functional: besides satisfying nicotine hunger, they help to whiten the teeth, clean them and refresh your breath. Lovely, isn’t it?

Quit Smoking Plasters: Aids for People with Strong Will

Quit Smoking Author — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:35:08 +0000

Quit smoking plasters are a nicotine replacement product which has been used as a method to stop smoking since the early 90s.
These plasters work by releasing a controlled dose of nicotine to the body and thus reducing the withdrawal symptoms in the users. The plasters come in doses of 21 mg, 14 mg, and 7 mg, which allows for the steady decrease in nicotine intake during the course of the treatment. The 21 mg plasters have the most nicotine and are usually used in the beginning of the therapy.
A quit smoking plaster should be applied to a clean, dry skin once a day and should be worn between 16 and 24 hours. The duration of the plaster therapy will depend on the particular brand you are using (for more information, consult the product’s instructions). If you have sleep disturbances, do not apply plasters during the night.
It is also recommended that you refrain from smoking while you use them because you may get a severe nicotine overdose. Among the symptoms of the nicotine overdose are: dizziness, strong headaches, vomiting, indigestion, cold sweating, redness and swelling at the plaster site. If you have severe bouts of any of these, do not hesitate to call a doctor.
Also, if you have some special medical conditions such as stomach ulcers, heart diseases, overactive thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure or allergies to medicines, consult a medical expert before starting a program with quit smoking plasters.
Different studies conducted throughout the years have given contradicting results regarding the efficacy of the plasters. Some have concluded that they are efficient when the particular user has had a strong will and determination to quit smoking. Therefore, if you really want to give up this dangerous habit, carry out the plaster therapy with the firm resolution that you will do whatever it takes to succeed.

Electrical Stimulation Therapies

Quit Smoking Author — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:25:04 +0000

Scientists have discovered that the human body’s nervous system is built according to a precise electrical design, the building block being the neurone. Neurones are nerve cells that carry electric impulses from the brain – the body’s command center – to all of the organs and body tissues. When one light’s a cigarette, he or she does so because the brain detects dipping levels of nicotine or another factor that activates the smoking reflex. Then, the brain sends electric “messages” to the smoker’s hands. It logically follows that there might be a way to prevent the delivery of such “harmful messages” from the brain or, alternatively, prevent the brain itself from sending them. With the advance of science and technology over the past few years, several quit smoking therapies, based on electrical stimulation of certain brain areas have evolved.
The Bioresonance therapy is a drug-free and painless method to kick out the habit of smoking. This method has demonstrated the astounding ninety-percent success rate! Basically, smokers crave their next cigarette because the nicotine contained inside has an electromagnetic charge over their bodies. The bioresonance device inverts the energy patterns of nicotine which are then passed to the body via electrodes. At this point, the process is at the cancellation phase which means that the message “I want to smoke”, sent by the brain, rarely reaches the smoker’s hand. As a result, the electromagnetic charge of nicotine is reduced. In addition, cancellation erases the energetic pattern of nicotine from the brain, i.e. the brain no longer sends “harmful messages to the smoker’s hand because the memory of nicotine has faded away.
Another highly-successful quit smoking method, based on electrical stimulation, is the auricular therapy. The effectiveness of this treatment program is due to the fact that it treats both, the psychological aspect of the problem and the desire for nicotine. This therapy involves safe and painless treatment of the auricles at several acupuncture points, induced with mild electrical stimulation.
As mentioned, the message “I want to smoke” is sent when the nicotine level in the smoker’s body drops. Much like the Bioresonance treatment, auricular therapy interrupts the sending of this harmful message. Moreover, the electrical stimulations, given at exact points of the outer ear, help to interrupt the signals sent to the brain and demanding more nicotine. Thus, the smoker gradually overcomes his addiction to nicotine. It should be mentioned that the chain smokers who undergo auricular therapy do not face any withdrawal symptoms. However, this smoking cessation method is effective only if the smoker is ready and highly-determined to kick out the habit.

Electronic Cigarette

Quit Smoking Author — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:21:00 +0000

It is a well-established fact that the nicotine contained in the tobacco products is addictive for the person using them. Moreover, researchers have found out that nicotine is more addictive than heroine, crack, or cocaine, although this substance is far less dangerous.
In a bid to curb nicotine addiction on a global level, Beijing-based SBT (later SBT RUYAN) developed the first electronic cigarette in 2003. The battery-powered cigarette reached Europe in 2006 and had its promotion in Vienna. The new smoking cessation technology caught the attention of the world media in 2007, when a Reuters’ team visited the headquarters of SBT in Beijing.
Basically, the electronic cigarette is a more harmless alternative to tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes, because it provides users with inhaled nicotine doses by way of a vaporized solution. In addition, this vapor provides a flavor and sensations quite similar to that of the real tobacco smoke. Electronic cigarettes are usually designed to resemble real tobacco products and fall in two main types – manual and automatic. The manual models have a button to be pressesd in order to activate the heating element that produces vapor. The automatic models are equipped with a sensor which detects the user’s airflow when taking a puff and activates the heating element.
The nicotine solution is the “active ingredient” of each electronic cigarette. It consists of nicotine which is diluted in glycerin or propylene glycol. Nicotine solutions are purchased separately in the form of refillable cartridges (the mouthpiece of an e-cigarette). They are available in a varying flavors and diverse nicotine concentrations, the latter ranging from high doses of nicotine, through midrange, to solutions containing very low doses of nicotine.
Not only is the electronic cigarette much less harmless and environment-friendly, but it is also a highly effective smoking cessation tool: the results of a recently completed study, monitored by the government of South Africa, demonstrate that 45% percent of the 349 participants permanently gave up smoking at the end of the second month. Moreover, over fifty percent of the smokers who participated in the study reported increased energy levels and a considerable improvement in their appearance.
Researchers have also found out that ten or fifteen puffs on an electronic cigarette deliver the same amount of nicotine contained in an ordinary cigarette. Furthermore, each puff contains one third to one half the nicotine of an ordinary tobacco cigarette’s puff. Finally, the nicotine solution inside the cigarette’s cartridge is absolutely tobacco-free.
For the abovementioned reasons, researchers from different countries agree that electronic cigarettes are the best smoking cessation solution currently available on the market.