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Up in Smoke
Why and How to Give up the Habit
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
. "You only have to remember to replace the patch each day, and the constant nicotine dosage helps keep you from feeling the cravings. However, there are side effects to its use as well, including irritation (burning or itching) at the site of the patch, vivid, colorful dreams and difficulty sleeping."
Sometimes the cravings for a cigarette are immediate, urgent and hard to refuse. Such a situation was one of the reasons for the now popular nicotine gum. Nicotine gum is a fast-acting form of nicotine to help get through those cravings. "Nicotine gum allows the smoker to control when he or she receives a dose of nicotine," says Bruss. "The gum is effective and convenient enough that it can be chewed when needed or on a fixed schedule throughout the day. In addition, for those with sensitive skin, the gum is a good alternative to the patch." Just as with the patch, there are side effects to the nicotine gum. These include a bad taste in your mouth, throat irritation, mouth ulcers, hiccups, nausea and jaw discomfort.
The American Cancer Society reports that the use of smoking cessation medications can more than double your chances of quitting for good. "Early evidence shows that combining nicotine replacement therapy with [smoking cessation medications] may be more effective than using either one alone," says Bruss. "Medications such as Zyban only treat the physical addiction to nicotine and help in decreasing the cravings or withdrawal symptoms. They are not a magic pill and won't keep you from being faced with your own triggers or mental habits of smoking. These medications work well when combined with other support."
