How to quit smoking: Nicotine-replacement therapy

Common name	Trademark
Nicotine (nicotine) Nicotine polacrilex (nicotine polacrilex)	Nikoderm, nicotine transdermal system, nicotrol (inhaler), nicotrol NS  Commit, nicotine, nicotine chewing gum

• Nicotine gum and candy gradually inject nicotine into the mouth.


• Nicotine patches are glued to the body and inject nicotine through the pores of the skin into the body's blood.


• The nicotine inhaler contains a container with nicotine. It is sprayed directly into the mouth.

All these nicotine substitutes are sold without a prescription, which is only necessary when buying an inhaler.

Note: OTC products should not be released to persons under 18 years of age. The doctor can assign them to a minor only in the case of a strong dependence on nicotine.

Effects of Nicotine-replacement therapy

Nicotine-replacement therapy helps reduce dependence by supplying the body with nicotine. It contains 1/3 compared to 1/2 the total amount of nicotine that is present in most cigarettes.

People experience dependence on nicotine, as it increases the level of certain chemicals, such as dopamine and norefininpin in the brain. When a person quits smoking, the level of these chemicals drops sharply and the body experiences nicotine starvation, which leads to poor health. When taking medications, the level of dofain and norepinepine rises in the same way as from a smoked cigarette. The brain records the flow of nicotine, and over time the symptoms of dependence gradually decrease.

When you inhale the tobacco smoke, nicotine starts to flow quickly from the lungs to the blood. The effect of nicotine-substituting products comes much later, so nicotine-substituting drugs do not cause dependence as cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Nicotine-replacement therapy is safe, if, of course, it is correctly applied. By itself, nicotine is not as harmful as the process of smoking. Resins, carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals contained in tobacco, gradually destroy a healthy body.

Why use nicotine-replacement therapy?

Nicotine-replacement therapy is useful for those who are determined to quit smoking. Doctors do not recommend it only in case of pregnancy or heart disease.

Pregnancy. The use of nicotine-replacement therapy during pregnancy often leads to the fact that children are born with insufficient weight. But in fact, the process of smoking is much more dangerous for you and your child than the therapy itself. If you are pregnant or plan it, be sure to consult about the use of this therapy with your doctor. During pregnancy it is recommended to use other means, and only then - nicotine-substituting products.

Diseases of the heart. Nicotine-replacement therapy in most cases is successfully used by people with heart disease. But if you have recently had a heart attack or have serious heart disease, such as arrhythmia or angina, be sure to consult your doctor about using nicotine replacement products.

The doctor usually does not suggest using this kind of therapy to persons who are under the age of 18, for the reason that the products have been tested only for adults and nothing is known about the side effects that may appear as a result of their use.

How effective is Nicotine-replacement therapy?

The use of nicotine-replacement products doubles the chances that you will eventually quit smoking. All its forms are effective in case of their correct use. The use of nicotine patch simultaneously with bupropion doubles the chances of success. If you decide to combine different forms of therapy, be sure to consult with your doctor.

You will achieve a better result if, together with nicotine replacement therapy, you compile a program that includes the start date of the course of recovery, a plan for eliminating smoking provocateurs and support from the attending physician, friends or relatives.

Side effects of Nicotine-replacement therapy

With the advent of effective nicotine-substituting drugs, many smokers prefer treatment that is easy to use and causes a small number of side effects. Only some (less than 5%) refuse to continue taking nicotine-replacement products due to side effects.

Abrupt discontinuation of therapy causes withdrawal symptoms similar to those that a person experiences after quitting smoking. The likelihood of developing these symptoms decreases with a gradual decrease in the daily dose.

In rare cases, these products can cause nicotine dependence.

Gum

Adverse events as a result of the use of nicotine gum:

• Bad taste in the mouth. There are several flavor varieties, for example, citrus or menthol, and many find them much more pleasant.


• Tingling of the tongue during chewing.


• Icking.


• An upset stomach or heartburn. This sometimes happens as a result of improper use, because the chewing gum should be between the gum and cheek.


• In the process of chewing, pain in the lower jaw may appear. Nicotine chewing gum is not recommended for people with diseases of the jaw joints (temporomandibular).

Lollipops

Side effects of nicotine lozenges:

• upset stomach, especially when swallowing;


• hiccough;


• heartburn;


• a headache;

Patch

Side effects of nicotine patch application:

• Skin rashes in the area of application of the patch, which can be a reaction to both the plaster itself and to nicotine. Plaster is contraindicated in people with sensitive skin or allergies. If unpleasant sensations from the use of this patch move it to another part of the body or use an over-the-counter antihistamine cream, gel (Benadryl) or ointment.


• Sleep disturbance with the constant use of the patch (for example, restless sleep). This happens because the brain is not used to the constant intake of nicotine into the body. To cope with this problem, you need to shoot it after 20.00. If this does not apply to side effects, but is the result of a withdrawal symptom, removing the patch will not work. It is necessary to consult with a specialist.

Inhaler

Adverse events of the inhaler application:

• a cough;


• stomach upset;


• irritation of the larynx.

Do not use a nicotine inhaler for respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies. Read the instructions carefully with a list of side effects.

What to think about

You can not continue smoking with nicotine replacement therapy, as there is a high probability of overdose and development of headache, nausea, blurred consciousness and vomiting. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Despite the method of quitting smoking, you can intensify coughing during the first week after you give up your bad habit. This is not the result of the development of the withdrawal symptom of nicotine, but simply the body is trying to clear the lungs, regardless of whether you are taking nicotine-replacement therapy or not. If the course of treatment is not completed to the end, you can not achieve the desired result and start smoking again. Do not consume acid-producing beverages, especially coffee and juices 15 minutes before and after applying the drug: the body may not take completely nicotine due to the acid of these drinks.

There is no universal nicotine-replacement therapy. The zealous smokers successfully achieve the desired effect using the strongest products from this series (chewing gum, candy, containing 4 mg of nicotine or patches with 21 mg). Start the course of treatment on the day when you quit smoking, which is a distinctive feature from other forms of treatment. If the side effects bring discomfort, change the type of therapy. Remember that this course of treatment doubles your chances of recovery. The harmfulness of prolonged use of nicotine gum is not established.

Nicotine-replacement therapy will reduce the majority, but not all of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. At the end of the course, dependence is significantly reduced. As a rule, early cessation of therapy leads to a return to smoking. When nicotine intake decreases to zero, you can still experience some withdrawal symptoms, but they are not prolonged and less painful.

Be sure to consult a doctor before using two forms of nicotine therapy (for example, plaster and chewing gum). In some cases, the use of bupropion simultaneously with nicotine-substituting products has an effective effect, but it can only be done under the supervision of a doctor. The doctor, however, can simply ascribe bupropion instead of these two drugs. In rare cases, nicotine nasal spray is used.