Cessation of Smoking By Nicotine Replacement Therapy

The nicotine in cigarettes and tobacco leads to actual physical dependence which can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when a person tries to quit. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a medically-approved way to take nicotine by means other than tobacco. It is the most commonly used family of quit smoking medications. It is helpful for quitting smoking or stopping chewing tobacco. NRT can help relieve some of the physical withdrawal symptoms so that one can focus on the psychological (emotional) aspects of quitting. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine. These products do not contain many of the toxins found in cigarette. The goal of therapy is to cut down cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. People may notice that nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings are not so strong when using NRT, therefore reduces the risk of smoking. Clinical trials show that NRT can increase the chance of quitting smoking by 50-70% when compared to quitting without help – making it a good option to include in their quit smoking plan. All forms of nicotine replacement products appear to be about equally effective when used properly.