Smoking Cessation Drug
As smokers know, one of the most difficult things you will ever do in life is to quit cigarettes. This is due to the highly addictive chemical Nicotine, the key narcotic ingredient in cigarettes. It’s widely reported by scientists that nicotine is just as, if not more, addictive than many other hardcore illegal substance, such as crack cocaine or heroin but Chantix and Zyban quit smoking pills help to fight against Nicotine addiction.
Despite the difficulty many smokers have in giving up their habit, the financial and physical benefits are a definite incentive – and quitting might not be as hard as you think. There are a range of medical aids available on the market to help you quit as easily as possible; many of these medications will help eliminate your cravings for nicotine - the main reason why most smokers relapse after choosing to quit.
The major benefits of being smoke-free
There are many benefits to becoming an ex-smoker; both you and your bank balance will become a great deal healthier for starters. No matter what age you quit smoking, you will notice a definite improvement in your life, both health-wise and money-wise. Once you’ve quit, you will decrease the risk of developing one of the many conditions caused by smoking. These illnesses, most of which are incurable and ultimately, fatal, include the likes of lung cancer, emphysema, diabetes, angina, heart disease, lung cancer, erectile dysfunction and many more. If you need more reasons to cut up your cigarettes, also consider the financial rewards that you will get from quitting. The average smoker in the UK spends a massive £1,500 on their habit every single year. This money could be spent on a luxury holiday or put towards a new car or house. So, think about what you would rather be doing – having a cigarette outside your local in the pouring rain, or sunning yourself on a beach in the Bahamas? The choice is yours.
The treatments that will help you to quit smoking
Currently there are three main treatment options available to help smokers quit their habit for good. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is the most common of these three. This treatment replaces the supply of nicotine that cigarettes would normally give your body. This medicated aid is available in a plethora of ways, from patches to inhalers and chewing gum to mints. Zyban is a prescriptive medication which was originally developed as an anti-depressant; however, it was later discovered that it could help people who wanted to give up smoking.
The final treatment option is Chantix, which is relatively new. This medication was developed by Pfizer to help smokers kick the habit. This revolutionary treatment works to both stimulate the same receptors in the brain as nicotine, whilst also preventing any nicotine that the body may absorb from reaching these receptors. Chantix significantly helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, thereby enabling smokers to give up much more easily. This treatment is probably the most effective and has a success rate of 44%; Zyban having a success rate of 29% and NRT having less than 15%.
NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy)
Nicotine Replacement Therapy is the first ever approved medical way of achieving smoking cessation. It’s available in a variety of different guises and it works by replacing the nicotine that your body would usually get from cigarettes. It also cuts out all the tar or poisons which smoking puts into your system. It’s important to note that the success rate of this method is not that high; only around 1 in 5 smokers on the NRT treatment actually manage to kick the habit.
Zyban (Bupropion)
Zyban is a treatment that was initially developed as a medication to combat depression. However, researchers noticed that during the clinical trial stage, this drug had great benefits for smokers who wished to give up cigarettes. Participants in Zyban trials who were smokers found that they were beginning to smoke less often and many of them quit altogether. It‘s not yet clear what component of Zyban helps smoking cessation, however it is thought by some scientists that it augments the levels of specific cerebral chemicals which help to control cravings. The success rate of this treatment is around 29% and should be taken in a course of 12 weeks.
Chantix (Varenicline)
Chantix is the most recent medical aid to help combat nicotine addiction and has a much higher success rate than either of its competitors. This revolutionary new drug impedes the action of nicotine, whilst at the same time stimulating the nicotine receptors in the brain. This dual action helps to diminish both the effect of nicotine on the body as well as the desire for cigarettes which is often felt when trying to quit. This medication has a success rate of 44%, which is considerably superior to any other treatment that is currently on the market. The entire course of this treatment lasts for just 12 weeks, however, numerous smokers find they can successfully quit before they complete their treatment.
