Medications To Cure Smoking Addiction
?
There are some strong-willed people who think
of leaving smoking today and are free from the addiction the very next
day. However, not everybody is so fortunate. Some of the smokers may
have to resort to medications in order to kick off this habit.
What
do these medications actually do is that they lessen the urge to smoke.
These medications must be taken only under the supervision of a
physician. Five medications which have been approved by the FDA to quit
smoking are bupropion SR, nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine nasal
spray and nicotine patch. Nicotine gum and nicotine patch are available
over-the-counter. However, the other medications require prescription.
Zyban tablets have been found to be highly effective in curing
people of smoking addiction. The tablet needs to be taken in whole
without crushing it as crushing can lead to side effects. It should be
taken only on the prescription of a doctor.
Nicotine patches come
impregnated with nicotine and they are to be applied to the skin. The
skin absorbs nicotine and transmits it to the blood stream. The amount
of nicotine delivered by these patches is moderate and not high enough
to lead to addiction. In fact, millions of people have benefited from
these nicotine patches.
Nicotine gums are supposed to be a safer
alternative. They are to be used in such a way that they come in contact
with the blood vessels of the mouth and thus release nicotine. It should
not go through the saliva and the stomach, otherwise it may cause
certain side effects.
These medications have to be taken quite
carefully and as per the prescription. Do consult your doctor before
taking any of these medications if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18,
have any kind of medical condition or are smoking less than 10
cigarettes a day.