Do You Stop Smoking With The Assistance Of Electronic Cigarettes?
Nicotine patches and nicotine gums were available only with a doctor’s prescription when they were first introduced. After several years of proven safety when taken as directed the products were offered for sale over the counter. The quit smoking products were an instant hit with smokers.
These products work by providing a source of nicotine that is meant to slake the cravings of the smoker. Gradually over a period of ten or more weeks the level of nicotine is reduced until the smoker no longer needs the stop smoking products at all.
Smokers who chose the nicotine patch use the maximum strength (21 mg) for the first six weeks. The instructions are to replace the patch with a fresh one every 24 hours but some smokers find their sleep disturbed and wear the patch only during waking hours. In weeks seven and eight the nicotine level is reduced to 14 mg and then to 7 mg for the final two weeks of the program.
Tobacco prices have drastically risen in the past few years. It is common for a heavy smoker to spend no less than $70 per week on his addiction. The total cost of patches for a 10 week smoking cessation program will cost a bit over $200. Clearly, this is cheaper than smoking tobacco for the next ten weeks. Nicotine replacement products are not advised for use by diabetics. This eliminates 8% of the U.S. population who cannot use the patches at all.
Another option for those who wish to stop smoking are nicotine gums. Nicotine is delivered to the body through the tissues of the mouth by a type of chewing gum. The individually foil wrapped pieces of gum contain 2 or 4 mg of nicotine which is comparable to the amount in one or two standard smokes.
The user controls the nicotine release of the gum. First the gum is chewed for a few seconds until it becomes soft and creates a tingly feeling in the mouth. Then it is tucked between the user’s cheek and gum and held there for a few minutes. As needed the gum is chewed again for a few seconds to release more of the nicotine tingling sensation. One piece of gum will last for about 30 minutes before the nicotine is depleted.
There can be side effects associate with nicotine gum. Reports of uncontrollable hiccups and a feeling that the throat muscles were constricted may be caused by swallowing saliva containing high doses of nicotine. Nicotine will constrict blood vessels and use of the stop smoking gum over a long period of time may lead to gum disease.
Used in the first trimester of pregnancy, nicotine replacement products have been links with increased risk of birth defects and neither gum nor patches should be used by pregnant women or nursing mothers.
The antidepressant prescriptive drugs that are used in stop smoking programs have raised concerns about serious side effects. Although the quit rate is somewhat higher with the stop smoking pills they should be taken under the supervision of a physician. The pills do not replace the nicotine for a smoker but they provide a calming feeling and reduce the physical cravings of nicotine withdrawal.
Those who choose the e-cigarette alternative and smokers who do not want to quit smoking but want to smoke in a better way. They want a healthier way to smoke that is environmentally sound and budget friendly. The best e-cigarette cannot be compared to smoking cessation products because the goals are not the same.
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