Smoking Cessation Medication – Exploring Viable Nicotine-Free Choices

Medication could be an effectual curative choice for all those trying hard to cease smoking. Though further studies are yet required, however researches have shown that varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban) help in diminishing withdrawal signs among smoker aiming to quit smoking.

The year-long successful quitting rates in trials have been 15-25%. But there are associated side effects when such medicines are taken and despite assistance, one’s system could still struggle amending to a nicotine-free existence.

Key Pointers

• These medications could augment likelihood of quitting smoking by two folds and help in allaying nicotine yearnings and withdrawal signs.
• Seeking proper counselling alongside the intake of medications would enhance quitting chances.
• Those smoking lesser than ten cigarettes per day would not require medications to assist in quitting.
• A number of insurance companies provide total or partial cover for the expenses entailed due to smoking cessation medications.

Smoke cessation Medicines

Medicines like varenicline (Chantix) or bupropion (Zyban) could be prescribed by the doctor to assist in coping with tobacco cravings. The pill-version of such medicines has no nicotine in them.

Varenicline (Chantix)
This medicine helps in blocking and reducing nicotine effects, yearnings and withdrawal signs. In case one does revert to smoking when on the medicine course, one would still not feel content. Hence, this enhances one’s chances to cease smoking. The medicine has to be ideally commenced seven days prior to one quitting smoking and taking it for twelve to twenty-four weeks, twice each day on a full stomach.

Bupropion SR (Zyban)
It can assist in balancing brain chemicals for lessening withdrawal signs. This medication could also be prescribed under product name Wellbutrin for depression treatment. However, it could assist in quitting smoking even when one does not have depression. Bupropion could be taken on a day-to-day basis for nearly one to two weeks prior to one stops smoking. This helps in building up drug levels in the system and one has to continue its intake for seven to twelve weeks subsequent to quitting smoking.

Nortriptyline
Aventyl, Pamelor and clonidine (Catapres)

This could be recommended in case other medications have failed to show success or the person is not able to consume them for some reason.

Medicine Efficacy

Medicine could augment probability of stopping smoking.

• A number of studies have shown varenicline (Chantix) to have better efficacy as compared to bupropion SR (Zyban). However, each individual case varies with one medication having a better effect as compared to another one.
• One’s likelihood of ceasing smoking is boosted when these are coalesced with other aids like counselling therapy.

Medication Side effects

The prevalent side effects associated with use of varenicline (Chantix) comprise of:

• Feeling nauseous.
• Greater incidence of dreaming.
• Wakefulness.
• Headaches.
• Giddiness.
• Mental illness signs like depressive tendencies.

Some individuals that are on a course of bupropion SR (Zyban) could sense oral dryness and sleeping problems and a miniscule risk of developing seizures and risk augmenting in case one has faced head injury or seizure attacks.

It is imperative to seek medical opinion prior to taking these products in case one is suffering from a mental sickness, any cardiac ailments or are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.