A big part of quitting smoking is getting through the physical withdrawal.  There are lots of quitting aids that can boost your chances of succeeding:

• Patch
• Gum
• Lozenge
• Inhaler
• Nasal Spray

Who should use medicines?

Usually, medicines are especially helpful if you smoke half a pack (10 cigarettes) or more per day. If you smoke less than half a pack per day, talk to your doctor and decide whether medication may help. Some medicines have nicotine to help heavier smokers quit, and they might make you feel weird if you are a lighter smoker. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about medications that may be available for you.

Why replace nicotine with nicotine?
People who use “nicotine replacement products” (like the gum) are twice as likely to succeed in quitting smoking. Why not make it easier? Cigarettes give your body a huge dose of nicotine all at once. When the level of nicotine goes down, you start craving another cigarette. Medicines that have nicotine in them give your body a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day. It helps you gradually reduce the amount of nicotine your body is used to – eventually down to nothing. Many people find this is easier to handle than trying to wean their body off the rapid ups and downs that go with smoking.

Non-Nicotine Medication
There are also medicines that do not have nicotine in them, including:

• Bupropion (Zyban)
• Varenicline (Chantix)
• Nortryptiline
• Clonidine

These medicines change the way your body processes certain chemicals that can change your mood. Some medicines were originally designed to help manage the moods that go along with quitting, like depression and anxiety. Others, like varenicline, were designed to target the way your brain responds to nicotine and can change the feeling you get from smoking.

How to decide which to use?

Use your own positive or negative experiences to guide you in deciding which quitting aid might be right for you. Some medicines like the gum, lozenge, inhaler, or spray require you to remember to use them throughout the day. Others, like the patch, can be put on each morning and worn for the rest of the day. Some medicines require a prescription from your doctor. Plan ahead if you want to use non-nicotine medications, the inhaler, or nasal spray.

Can you use more than one?

Yes. Research suggests that combining the nicotine patch with either nicotine gum or nicotine nasal spray increases success rates more than just using one of them alone.

If you would like to use nicotine replacement products along with non-nicotine medicines, you need to talk to your doctor to find the right combination for you.

As with any medication, side effects are possible. Make sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects. For more information on quitting aids, go to: http://www.smokefree.gov/medication-guide.aspx

Know too that quitting smoking is more than just getting over the physical addiction. You also need to come up with new ways to cope with situations instead of smoking. To do so, you need to examine when and why you smoke, so that you can find different things to do instead. For example, if you usually have a cigarette after work to relax, think about other relaxing after-work activities that you can do instead, like taking a bath or walking the dog. Take a look at some of our other blogs for more coping strategies.