While 90% of smokers quit on their own, each attempts only effective for 3-5% of the people who try. Experts agree that, whatever aid for smoking cessation you use, your best chance of quitting is to combine behavior modification with it. So join a support group or a smoking cessation program regardless of the other method you select. Some aids for quitting are listed below.
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy: But note that it is not safe to smoke while using any of these products.
- Nicotine Gum: You can get it without a prescription. Chew it whenever you get the urge to smoke, following package directions.
- Nicotine Patches: Four different patches are available, two without a prescription. Ask your pharmacist to explain the differences between them.
- Nicotine Nasal Spray: This is fairly new. While it appears to be more effective than other nicotine replacement systems, some people become dependent on it.
- Antidepressants: So far, only one prescription antidepressant drug, Zyban, has been approved specifically for smoking cessation. It has a direct effect on the biochemistry of nicotine addiction.
Don't be discouraged if you fail the first time you try to quit. Try again, using another method.
For more information about quitting smoking, ask your pharmacist!
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