Do Quit Smoking Aids Really Help

Many people who are trying to quit smoking are going “cold turkey." They are just stopping abruptly without the use of any quit smoking aids that are available to them. There may be medical reasons for this, or some may simply feel as if they “should” be able to quit on their own.

Going cold turkey may help to get excessive nicotine out of your system quickly, using within a few days or so, however, the withdrawal symptoms are usually pretty severe and intense, as is the physical discomfort that goes with this. Many people find themselves itching for a cigarette very quickly on, and when this happens, you would do well to consider using some of those quit smoking aids at your disposal.

Do Quit Smoking Aids Really Work?

The happy news for anyone in this situation is that most quit smoking aids, even those available over the counter at your local pharmacy, seem to have good results for those who use them. They are usually very affordable and easy to use, and have few side effects.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a popular choice for quit smoking aids. This may include the patch, gum, spray, or inhaler. These products work by allowing nicotine into your system gradually over a longer period of time, thereby reducing your cravings for a cigarette.

The other advantage to these types of quit smoking aids is that, unlike cigarettes which consist of thousands of poisonous and/or carcinogenic chemicals, NRTs contain only nicotine. Additionally, the chemical reaction that happens when one burns cigarettes causes those around a smoker to suffer consequences as well, something that doesn’t happen with the patch, gum, inhaler, or spray.

Other quit smoking aids may be available from your doctor and are in pill form. Most are considered mild anti-depressants, and work by calming and relaxing you, thereby decreasing your nervous habit of reaching for a cigarette. Some however have more severe side effects than those products you would get over the counter, and should be used only when under a doctor’s care.

In the end, trying to go cold turkey may be an option for you, but if you’re worried that it just won’t work are aren’t really looking forward to the withdrawal symptoms and the cravings – and your family isn’t looking forward to them either! – then you have a wealth of options when it comes to quit smoking aids.

Tags: Stop Smoking Tips