Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Nicotine replacement therapy, is it right for me?

By Kimberley Steffano

Nicotine replacement therapy is intended to give your body a low dose of nicotine to help cut back the cravings. Your withdrawal symptoms will not be as severe since small amounts will be put into your system. However nicotine replacement therapy will cause your system to go through withdrawals twice. The first time when you initially quit smoking and the second time when you stop the nicotine replacement therapy. You do not need to go to a doctor to get it.

This can be difficult for many people, especially if its the second time around. You'll go through a milder form of withdrawals as that familiar edgy feeling comes back. You're never prepared for that second wave of withdrawal and frequently have a hard time stopping the nicotine replacement therapy. Those that are able to move on are closer to becoming smoke free.

There are several types of nicotine replacement therapy; the most common option used is the patch. Normally you start with a higher dose and gradually work your way down over a 6 to 12 week timeframe. One of the things that should be noted, is the amount of nicotine delivered over the 24 hours is often too much for the body to handle and side effects are very common.

Nausea and cold sweats is a common side effect of the patch. This can be an indication that the dose is to high for your system and you can try a lower dose the next day. It might be a good idea to look into another form of nicotine replacement therapy. Many people have had great success with the patch, but since the human body's chemistry varies from person to person not everyones body is able to adapt to the patch.

There are several forms of nicotine replacement therapy, the patch is no longer your only option. Nicotine gum now has improved in flavor and lacks that pepper taste that used to linger in your mouth. You don't have to worry about feeling sick due to the taste, because now the nicotine gum comes in fruit flavors. The dosage schedule is controlled by you depending on your withdrawal symptoms.

Another form of nicotine replacement therapy is the lozenge, which is available in an assortment of flavors. These tablets will dissolve slowly in your mouth sending a low dose of nicotine to your body. The tablets usually work for 2 to 4 hours, but you can adjust your dosage schedule depending on your need. It's possible that you will have some type of secondary withdrawal as you slowly sever your ties to the lozenge. Being smoke free is worth it in the end.

The nicotine inhaler is also a good method for those that need to have something in their hand, which is a common problem among smokers. Again you receive low doses of nicotine, which you inhale through this device that assists you in overcoming you're cravings. And although I have personally not tried this I've spoken to several people who have found this to be really helpful.

Most nicotine replacement therapy options are available over the counter, helping you avoid any added expense that seeing a doctor would create. You will also benefit from the online support that many of the products provide, along with several forums in which you can receive support from your peers that are also trying to stop smoking.

Please remember that there are some side effects that come with nicotine replacement therapy. They can vary from insomnia, to a slight headache, to more severe symptoms like nausea, diarrhea or constipation. If the symptoms are not temporary you might want to think about changing the dosage or looking into other therapy options. There are also options out there that are non-nicotine based. - 16004

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