| Going cold turkey or relying on willpower to quit | | | | Like the nicotine patch, the nicotine gum works on |
| smoking most often ends in failure. However, there | | | | the same idea. It can be quite effective as it can |
| are medical aids that may make the task a little more | | | | replicate the nicotine spikes in your bloodstream |
| bearable, with the most popular ones being those | | | | without you having to smoke cigarettes. You |
| that supply and regulate nicotine in the bloodstream. | | | | generally hold the nicotine gum in your mouth without |
| The nicotine patch is one of the more popular | | | | chewing, and only chew a couple of times when you |
| medical aids for quitting smoking. This nicotine patch | | | | desire a hit of nicotine. |
| is placed on your skin, which then releases a slow | | | | Another aid, Zyban, is also a very effective aid in |
| and steady stream of nicotine into the bloodstream. | | | | your battle to quit smoking. It does not work by |
| Instead of cutting out nicotine instantly from your | | | | supplying nicotine to the bloodstream, but works by |
| system, the patch supposedly helps your body | | | | altering the brain chemistry to reduce the desire for |
| adjust slowly to not having spikes in the nicotine level | | | | smoking. Zyban is usually taken a few weeks before |
| and wean your body gradually off nicotine. As your | | | | you plan to stop smoking as it takes time for any |
| body adjusts to lower levels of nicotine, the dosage | | | | effect to take place. |
| of the patch can be further reduced, until eventually | | | | Zyban is a prescription drug, so you need to consult |
| the nicotine level is almost minimal and your body is | | | | with a doctor to be prescribed Zyban. It cannot be |
| finally nicotine free. | | | | taken in combination with other drugs, and may have |
| The patch is also a very strong deterrent against | | | | some side effects such as dizziness, insomnia, dry |
| smoking, because if you smoke while on the patch, | | | | mouth or even seizures. |
| you could suffer from a potentially lethal nicotine | | | | To quit smoking takes serious effort, but too many |
| overdose. However, one common problem with the | | | | smokers try to quit by relying on sheer willpower, |
| nicotine patch is that because the patch supplies a | | | | which is extremely hard to do. By using these aids |
| steady amount of nicotine into your bloodstream, | | | | such as the nicotine patch and Zyban, you are |
| there is no spike or hit, so that some smokers still | | | | making it easier for your body to quit smoking and |
| crave cigarettes for the hit that cigarette provides. | | | | thus improving your chances of success. |