Effective Quit Smoking Aids

Mark Twain famously said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it a thousand times." It is perhaps a statement that supports what every smoker experiences, you want to quit and you try but you find it hard to stick with it. Very few people can go cold turkey and successfully commit to it so as to overcome the habit. Quitting smoking can be difficult and entails a lot of hard work. The withdrawal reactions can be problematic and this is because of the dependence of the body on nicotine. Thankfully there are a number of aids for stopping smoking that can help people overcome this problem and deal with the effects. Following are some effective smoking aids to help you deal with your smoking addiction problem.

Nicotine Based Aids
Aids for stopping smoking including nicotine patches and gum are often called Nicotine Replacement Therapies. These no smoking aids are designed to help the user deal effectively with the problem of nicotine cravings so that the chances of quitting smoking successfully are improved. Even though these no smoking aids contain nicotine it is essentially different than that contained in cigarettes. This is because these aids do not contain other harmful and toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide that is contained in cigarettes and so do not cause problems like strokes and cancer. Some stop smoking aids are available as over the counter aids while others can be used only after prescription. Before using any of the stop smoking aids it is important to seek professional help or doctors opinion particularly if the concerned person is either pregnant or has a history of problems like heart or circulatory condition. Medical guidance is also essential if certain other medications are being taken so as to ensure that the combination of the medicines and the no smoking aids will not cause problems.

Nicotine Gum
Nicotine gum is a quit smoking aid in which nicotine is absorbed via the lining of the mouth.

Nicotine Patches
In nicotine patch a small patch is attached to the body and this is worn by the user for a period of 16 hours to 24 hours. The body naturally absorbs the nicotine to counter effect the cravings a person experiences on quitting smoking. These are the stop smoking aids that work well with many people.

Nicotine Tabs and Lozenges
Nicotine tabs are small tablets that contain nicotine and this nicotine dissolves under the skin and is absorbed in the body. Lozenges provide nicotine and these are sucked slowly so as to release the nicotine content. These take around 20 to 30 minutes to dissolve completely.

Nicotine Nasal Spray
This is also one of the effective no smoking aids which is available in a spray form and can be used to swiftly deliver a dose of nicotine. Once this is used the essential dose of nicotine is delivered via the lining of the nose.

Inhalators
Inhalators are also extremely popular stop smoking aids that work rather effectively for many people. Inhalators are made from plastic and look like a plastic cigarette. The inhalator works by releasing a nicotine vapor that enters into the mouth and is absorbed in the throat. Many people who smoke also miss the habit of drawing in the breath and using mouth and hands in smoking. Inhalator works well for such individuals. New aids for stopping smoking are even better than the traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapies as they not only help people to break the habit but also allow people to be weaned off the nicotine.

Zyban
Zypan contains an ingredient called bupropion hydrochloride. Initially this was developed to treat depression but eventually it was discovered that this can aid in helping smokers to give up the habit. While it is not yet clear how exactly this drug works but it seems to change the level of chemicals in the brain. This helps relieve the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking including nicotine cravings, headaches, hunger, problems in concentration, anxiety etc.

Chantix
Chantix also known as Varenicline is another drug that interferes with the receptors in the brain that are stimulated by nicotine. This stimulation results in imitation of the effects of nicotine and this causes reduction in cravings and the related withdrawal effects. Chantix is one of the popular no smoking aids in the market.

Natural Aids
Along with traditional and new aids and medicines for stopping smoking there are some natural stop smoking aids that have known to be beneficial. Hypnosis is one such method. While it has not always been successful it is a method that can be explored to see if it can help people to give up the habit. Acupuncture is also a method which can help people give up smoking. It entails stimulating external parts or specific points of the body with special needles to effect changes within the body. Acupuncture for smoking is normally done in some areas of the ears. Cold laser therapy is one of the new additions to possible treatments to help give up smoking. In this therapy laser beams are used to stimulate body’s acupoints instead of needles as in acupuncture. Likewise alternative medicine including homeopathic and other herbal supplements can also be used as natural stop smoking aids.