Nicotine is both a stimulant and an appetite suppressant. Patients quitting tobacco must be counseled to increase their exercise routine and to watch their dietary intake. The program usually offers a variety of self help materials, as well as a formal behavior modification program, such as the American Cancer Society Fresh Start Program, or a local program tailored to promote cessation for the beneficiary population. Additional resources may be obtained from the American Lung Association, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Heart Association, as well as the American Cancer Society. Relapse Relapse is a frequent occurrence with nicotine cessation and is a natural part of the change process.
Most smokers make four to seven serious attempts to quit before they succeed.
Early relapsers tend to resume tobacco use due to withdrawal symptoms, weight gain, cravings and habit within 48 hours to one week. Most studies have found that relapse occurs within 30 to 60 days. Former users benefit from learning that a quit is only one day at a time and that one slip does not mean a full return to tobacco use. The Effectiveness of the Nicotine Patch for Smoking Cessation, A Meta-analysis, JAMA, 1994. In Search of the Structure of Change, NIH Grant CA 27821.