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Smoking-cessation Drugs are medicines that help people stop smoking cigarettes or using other forms of tobacco.
People who smoke cigarettes or use other forms of tobacco often have a difficult time when they try to stop. This is partly because they get in the habit of using tobacco at certain times of day or while they are doing certain things, such as having a cup of coffee or reading the newspaper.
But
the habit is also hard to break because tobacco contains Nicotine, a drug
that some people find as addictive as Cocaine or Heroin. A person who is
addicted to Nicotine has withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety,
difficulty concentrating and craving for tobacco, when he or she stops using
tobacco.
Some people can stop smoking through willpower alone, but most do better if
they have support from friends, family, a physician or pharmacist or a
formal stop-smoking program. Heavy tobacco users may find that
Smoking-Cessation products also help by easing their withdrawal symptoms.
Most Smoking-Cessation products contain nicotine, but the Nicotine is
delivered in small, steady doses spread out over many hours. In contrast,
when a person inhales a cigarette, Nicotine enters the lungs and then
travels to the brain within seconds, delivering the "rush" that
smokers come to crave. Another difference is that Smoking-Cessation products
do not contain the tar and carbon monoxide that make cigarettes so harmful
to people's health.
Smoking Cessation Drugs that contain Nicotine are also called Nicotine Substitution products or Nicotine Replacement therapy. These come in four forms-chewing gum, skin patch, nasal spray, and inhaler. Some products are available only with a prescription, but others can be bought over the counter (without a prescription). People who buy the non-prescription products should check with a physician before starting to use them. Some commonly used brands of Smoking Cessation products are Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Habitrol, ProStep, and Nicorette.
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