Smoking cessation medications

Smoking is the addiction to tobacco consumption, which has negative effects on health. It is a chronic, addictive and relapsing disease.

Regular tobacco use can lead to a variety of conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and is particularly harmful during pregnancy. Smoking contributes to a general decline in health and can cause disability.

The World Health Organization defines smoking as an epidemic.

As mentioned above, smoking causes a multitude of diseases, including respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer.

According to WHO data, tobacco is the leading cause of disability and premature death, and the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. More than 8 million people die each year as a result of smoking, of which almost 20% are passive smokers.

Smokers who are significantly dependent on nicotine should consider nicotine replacement or drug therapy to help them quit. Signs of severe dependence are:

Smoking more than a pack a day

Smoking within five minutes of waking up

Smoking even when sick

Waking up at night to smoke

Smoking to alleviate withdrawal symptoms

The more of these signs that apply to you, the more severe the dependence.

These are nicotine replacement therapy medications. There are different types to help you stop smoking, although some people even manage to stop smoking without treatment.

Nicotine replacement therapy can be used as an adjunct to complementary treatment prescribed by a doctor or on its own. Many studies have shown that using nicotine replacement therapy can almost double the chances of successfully quitting smoking.

Nicotine binds to pleasure receptors producing satisfaction, causing a physical dependence on nicotine to emerge.

When quitting smoking, withdrawal symptoms can occur, so nicotine replacement therapy provides nicotine replacement in the form of gum, patches, nasal sprays, inhalers or lozenges. This removes the remaining harmful elements of tobacco and reduces withdrawal symptoms, allowing the patient to focus on overcoming the habit or emotional dependence.

- Nicotine gum: Nicotine gum is a popular fast-acting replacement method. They can be purchased over the counter, and are available in 2mg and 4mg strengths in a variety of flavours.

- Nicotine lozenges: The lozenge format comes in two strengths of 2mg and 4mg so smokers can choose their dose according to their level of dependence.

- Nicotine patches: this is a very convenient method, as they release a small dose through the skin. As the smoker switches to patches with a lower level of nicotine, the level of dependence decreases.

- Nicotine sprays: This is a very useful, though perhaps less well known, method. It comes in the form of nicotine sprays or dispensers in different doses to help you quit smoking.

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