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Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)Nicotine Replacement Therapy works by making a small amount of nicotine available to the body to counteract nicotine cravings and the other symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Smoking conditions a smoker's body to receive a constant influx of nicotine via cigarettes whenever they smoke. When they quit, their body has to adjust to no longer receiving this nicotine. What NRT does is alleviate some of the uncomfortable aspects of this break with nicotine, allowing the process of weaning the body off nicotine to occur more gradually. Many people find NRT most helpful during the first few weeks of them no longer smoking but, for others, the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can persist for months. While the typical treatment programme envisions that you use the gum for around three months, some people may need to use NRT for longer than this. There is little data published on the long-term effects of the extended use of NRT but such usage does not appear to entail a significant higher risk. It is also acknowledged that, whatever this risk, it is certainly less than the effects of continued smoking. You should consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about the length of time that you have been using the gum. The possible symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can include irritation, anxiety, fatigue, mild depression, and nicotine cravings. Generally speaking, the more you smoked then the more severe the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal will be, making it harder for you to quit. This is why many people find it so hard to quit smoking "cold turkey" without the help of NRT. By alleviating some of the physiological imperatives related to the smoking habit, the ex-smoker is better equipped to deal with overcoming the remaining behavioural and psychological facets of their smoking habit. NRT replaces the nicotine found in cigarettes without exposing the user to the other carcinogenic substances and toxins such as carbon monoxide and tar. The NRT only provides a small amount of nicotine compared to that contained in each cigarette. This also makes it easier to stop using NRT when you feel confident that this will not cause a relapse into the smoking habit. It is widely accepted that, provided that you are committed to stopping smoking, NRT will approximately double your chances of quitting. It is certainly higher than the success rates for "heavy" smokers who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day and try to quit cold turkey, which is estimated to be as little as 5%. |
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