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Over the Counter Remedies To Help You Stop Smoking
The most common over-the-counter aids to quit smoking are the various methods of what is known as Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The aim of this therapy is to wean the patient off cigarettes by replacing their intake of the addictive nicotine by a method less harming to their health than smoking. When a person quits smoking, they are likely to suffer withdrawal symptoms which will test their willpower and is likely to make them feel unwell for a time. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, irritability, fatigue, and distortions of time perception and concentration amongst others. With a remaining source of nicotine, these symptoms can be eased or stopped while the patient gets used to no longer smoking.
Nicotine replacement delivery methods can include:
- Nicotine patch – a small patch which looks like a sticking plaster, which will gradually release a steady dose of nicotine into the bloodstream. The systems below introduce nicotine to the body in controlled, single doses with each application. The choice of delivery will depend on lifestyle and level of addiction.
- Inhaler
- Nasal Spray
- Gum
- Tablet
- Lozenge
Nicotine Replacement Therapy is widely recommended for use in quitting. It is safe for most people, with adverse reactions to the replacement methods being very rare. Contrasting this to the large increase in incidences of fatal diseases that not quitting will expose a smoker to, it is an encouraged option.
Also, despite the name, it is not merely a case of replacing cigarettes with a patch or gum and continuing with life for evermore. The nicotine addiction is tackled by this treatment, as it releases nicotine more slowly than cigarettes do, and so dampens but does not eliminate the desire to smoke. This provides someone who has recently quit with the opportunity to combat their addiction without being overwhelmed, boosting their self esteem as they find resiting the urge more manageable.
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