They Blind Me With Science

The trend toward no smoking has become almost a marketing frenzy.  You see the ads on television and hear them on the radio.  There are money-off coupons in your local paper for “quit smoking aid”.  It seems like everyone has the next best product to help you stop smoking.

Some people feel they are lifesavers.  Others say they are just a crutch and won’t lead to complete cessation.  We still feel like we need to address the other aid out there that can help you kick the habit.

The pharmacological approaches are called Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and they involve "replacing" the nicotine in a cigarette with another form, helping relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms people experience when they stop smoking. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five medications to help you stop smoking:

• Bupropion SR:  Trade names include Wellbutrin® SR, Zyban®, Budeprion™ SR.  All are available via prescription only.  These NRT methods are antidepressants that assist in relieving withdrawal symptoms and are most effective when used in combination with a supervised stop-smoking program

• Nicotine gum:  Trade names include Nicorette® among others.  These gums are available over the counter and chewable gum; most effective when used in combination with a supervised stop-smoking program

• Nicotine nasal spray:  Trade name is Nicotrol® NS.  Available by prescription, nasal spray; most effective when used in combination with a supervised stop-smoking program

• Nicotine patch:  Trade names include Nicotrol®, Prostep®, Habitrol®, Nicoderm®.  Available both in prescription and over the counter strength.  skin patch; most effective when used in combination with a supervised stop-smoking program

• The new Commit lozenge is a cough-drop like aid that also provides a specific dose of nicotine.

Generally, NRT is intended for short-term use, and allows you to focus on the psychological aspects of quitting and stop smoking while the physical symptoms of withdrawal are minimized. It is not intended to be the only method used to help you stop smoking and should be combined with other smoking cessation methods that address the psychological factors of smoking.

There are also four ways to stop smoking that do not involve NRT.  These approaches tend to be favored because they do not contain the very chemical that you are trying to get away from.  They include:

• Hypnosis. Smoking cessation is one of the most popular medical uses of hypnosis. Hypnosis helps a person learn to deeply relax, be open to suggestions that strengthen resolve to stop, and increase negative feelings toward cigarettes. Ask your doctor if he or she can recommend a good hypnosis practitioner in your area.

• Acupuncture. One of the oldest medical systems, acupuncture is believed to work by stimulating the energy flow in the body. Acupuncture is believed to help trigger the release of endorphins (naturally-occurring pain relief substances) that allow the body to relax.

By helping the body become more balanced, acupuncture can be helpful in managing physiological withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor, family member, or friend if he or she can recommend a good acupuncture practitioner in your area.

• Behavioral Therapy. Because so much of nicotine addiction is related to the habitual behaviors (the “rituals”) involved in smoking, learning to change the automatic nature of those behaviors is often a standard approach to a smoking cessation program. Working with a therapist or counselor, you can learn new ways to cope with the underlying reasons why you've smoked in the past and break through habitual patterns.

• Nicotine Vaccination. A number of vaccines for the prevention and treatment of nicotine addiction are currently under development and being tested in clinical trials. NicVAX, for example, works by triggering the body’s immune system to block nicotine from reaching the brain, and is expected to work for a year following injection.

Please remember that NRT can be very controversial and not for everyone.  For those of us with little to no willpower, they can be lifesavers.  You have to do your research and figure out what’s right for you in your bid to stop smoking.  What doesn’t work for one person might be a wondrous cure for another.
There are some amazing groups out there ready to help you along he way towards a non-smoking lifestyle.