Medication To Quit Smoking: List Of 6 Approved Drugs By The FDA Part 3

September 3rd, 2007 · No Comments

Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT)

The remaining 4 medications fall under Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT)

Nicotine Patch

You can obtain these patches from either by prescription or over-the-counter. When you place the patch on your skin, it will release a consistent amount of nicotine into your blood stream. Usually, the patch will have a time-release period between 16 and 24 hours. By supplying nicotine to your body, it can help you to overcome your cravings for cigarette.

Possible side effects may arise such as headache, nausea, vomiting, fast heartbeat, dizziness, skin irritation, weird dreams, insomnia, muscle pain and muscle stiffness. You can safely use it for no more than 5 months.

Nicotine Gum

This gum needs no prescription. You can get it from any health stores or pharmacies. It can help you especially when you want to reach a cigarette to puff. You can chew a maximum of 30 gums daily. Based on recommendation, you should not use the gum for more than 8 weeks. If you smoke over 25 cigarettes a day, then you need 4 mg gum. If you smoke less than that, then use 2 mg gum.

Among the side effects that may take place, include fast heartbeat, mouth sores, throat irritation, jaw discomfort, bad taste, nausea, vomiting, and hiccups. You can depend on it for up to six months without experiencing the adverse effect of nicotine.

Nicotine Inhaler

The inhaler, which requires prescription, looks like a cigarette. It delivers most of the nicotine vapor to your mouth. Compared to cigarettes, it will not deliver contaminants to your body. For smokers who are quitting, they feel that nicotine inhaler resembles a cigarette, which may help them to get rid of their habit.

Side effects such as stomach upset, coughing, and throat irritation appear when you use the inhaler for the first time. You use between 6 and 16 cartridges per day. The treatment should take no more than 24 weeks to complete.

Nicotine Nasal Spray

This prescribed product can deliver nicotine quickly to your body. You just spray the nicotine into your nose and you will immediately receive the nicotine you need. It relieves withdrawal symptoms. Whether it can help you to manage your nicotine addiction is another thing. You should only use it for a maximum of two sprays per hour. You should not use it more than three months.

Common side effects include coughing, watery eyes, nasal irritation, runny nose, throat irritation, and sneezing. You should not use it for more than 6 months.

Make sure you’re taking the right dosage as prescribed by the doctors for the appropriate period. You can also check with your insurance companies if you can claim the expenses for these medications.

These drugs for quit smoking may not be suitable for pregnant and nursing women or women who plan to have babies. You need to consult your doctor before you take them.

Whether or not after taking any one of these medications, you can completely quit smoking depends on you. They are not the magic cure to end your bad habit. On your own, it is tough. With the help of these medications, your chances of succeeding in becoming an ex-smoker are higher. Of course, you need to consider other factors apart from these drugs that are important in determining your success in giving up cigarettes.