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