There are lots of different methods to help you stop smoking for good.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is available in different forms and these include gum, patches, nasal spray, sublingual tablets and sprays. It provides an alternative source of nicotine to help ease the withdrawal symptoms when you stop smoking. The frequency of use and dose is gradually reduced over time until it is not needed at all. NRT provides a source of nicotine without the other harmful chemicals and tar that is found in cigarettes.
Often with NRT the nicotine takes longer to reach the brain compared with smoking and patients can find this difficult and discontinue treatment. The symptoms associated with withdrawal may be reduced with NRT but may not go away completely.
There is always a temptation to start smoking again with NRT, however with Champix the receptors in the brain are blocked. This makes you more likely to succeed as even if you have a cigarette, the nicotine will not have an effect.
Zyban (Bupropion) is another stop smoking treatment. It is an antidepressant that has also been shown to stop cravings and withdrawal associated when you stop smoking tobbacco. It doesn’t replace nicotine or block the receptors like NRT or Champix. Its mode of action is unknown but it is thought it affects chemicals in the brain. Bupropion has been shown to be less effective than Champix and is no longer recommended.