Quit smoking aids

Before you attempt to use any quit smoking aids available on the market, be aware that they are designed only to offer help for quitting smoking and cannot guarantee you stop completely. This means that quit smoking aids are manufactured to work towards your smoking cessation goal. The success of quit smoking aids depends on how committed you are. If you have a firm determination to quit, these smoking cessation aids can work better for you. However, before you decide to choose a particular method, we suggest you seek the advice of your doctor to find out which quit smoking aids might work best for you.

Cold turkey

Quitting through cold turkey means to stop smoking by sheer will power without the support of any smoking cessation aids. Many people are able to quit smoking by this method, but many are also too scared to even try because of the painful nicotine withdrawal symptoms. If cold turkey sounds tough for you, there are a plenty of quit smoking aids available that can help you quit more comfortably.

Nicotine replacement therapy

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) provides nicotine to the body externally to help ease the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. You can then focus more on quitting the habit of smoking easier. Popular forms of NRT include nicotine chewing gum, nicotine patches, nicotine tabs, lozenges, inhalers and nicotine nasal spray. When used, these smoking cessation products can help you to quit painlessly and comfortably. On the downside, since NRTs contain nicotine, the addictive component in tobacco, a certain risk of re-addiction is involved when using these quit smoking aids.

Nicotine-free quit smoking medications

Today, there are several "quit smoking aids" available at your local pharmacy that do not use nicotine as an active ingredient. These nicotine-free quit smoking medications are available on a doctor’s prescription and are to be used in conjunction with professional smoking cessation counselling.

Bupropion

Marketed as Zyban by GlaxoSmithKline, bupropion hydrochloride is essentially an anti-depressant medicine that is also shown to work as a quit smoking aid. The drug helps to relieve you from the hassle of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, such as nicotine cravings, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, irritability, hunger, difficulty concentrating and depression, so you can quit comfortably.

Chantix (varenicline tartrate)

This is the most innovative quit smoking aid developed by Pfizer pharmaceuticals. Chantix was approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation drug in May 2006. The active ingredient in Chantix is varenicline, uses a 2-pronged attack to help you quit smoking. Chantix imitates the effects of nicotine in the brain, helping to reduce cravings and withdrawal effects when you stop smoking. Besides, unlike any other quit smoking aid Chantix reduces the level of satisfaction derived from smoking. If you take the Chantix treatment you are therefore less likely to continue smoking. Clinical trials have shown Chantix quadruples the odds of quitting as compared to a placebo, and doubles the chances of quitting when compared to taking the bupropion treatment.