Quitting Smoking and Products to Help

Contributed by: Lauren Mareschal, Pharm.D. Candidate

UMKC School of Pharmacy

Text Box: Congratulations! You have finally made the decision to quit smoking. After setting your official quit date, you will have to decide what product, if any, you will use for assistance. The following is a brief description of your options with some advantages and disadvantages. Cold Turkey: This method of quitting requires true self-control and determination. However, nicotine withdrawal will happen whether you use the cold turkey method or a nicotine containing product, so why not just get the withdrawal over with right away? Besides, with no product to buy, it is by far the cheapest. When combined with a smoking cessation program, this method works especially great for some people! Tapering: You can taper off your cigarettes, which again requires self-control since you will still have cigarettes around the house. However, this is another cheap option. QuitKey® and SmokeSignals® are two handheld computerized machines that assist with tapering based on your current smoking level. Obviously, this is not as cheap as tapering on your own but might help you stick to your taper. Gum (Nicorette® or generic product):
The gum is sugar-free and available in tobacco-like, mint, and orange flavors. However, it is not as tasty as normal gum. It must be alternated between slow chewing and “parking” between the gum and cheek at the first sign of mint or citrus flavor or tingle. If the gum is accidentally ingested, it can nausea, vomiting, hiccups, or heartburn. So, this is not a good option if you have peptic ulcer disease. It is also not good for people with dentures or for people who have a work environment that does not allow gum chewing. It is a great option if you have an oral fixation. You cannot eat or drink 15 minutes before or while using the gum. If you smoke >25 cigarettes a

Text Box: throat irritation and may result in dependence. It requires a prescription. Inhaler (Nicotrol®): The inhaler mimics the hand-to-mouth ritual of smoking but can cause throat or mouth irritation and is not good for patients with bronchospasms. It requires a prescription. Oral medications: Buproprion SR (Wellbutrin SR®): This medication is also used as an antidepressant but cannot be used in patients who have seizures or anorexia or in patients who are abruptly discontinuing alcohol or sedatives. It is often taken for 12 weeks with side effects such as insomnia and dry mouth. It can be used in combination with any of the nicotine replacements, such as lozenges, gum or the patch. Varenicline tartrate (Chantrix®): This medication was recently approved by the FDA. It is taken once or twice daily for 12-24 weeks. It has shown more success in trials compared to bupropion but may not be available until summer 2006. Also, bupropion has more safety evidence. The most common side effects are nausea, constipation, gas, vomiting, and changes in dreaming. Good luck with quitting! You are taking steps to improve your health and the health of those around you! For additional information, talk to your pharmacist or physician or visit www.smokefree.gov.