Becoming addicted to nicotine is easy. It doesn't take more than a few cigarettes, which then morph into 10, 100, and thousands. Though the science is clear, a nicotine addiction can still sneak up on a you, especially if you start while young, and convince yourself you can keep it to a few without ever becoming a real smoker.
Becoming addicted to nicotine is easy, but quitting smoking isn't. Smoking cigarettes is, research shows, just as addictive as using heroin — and it kills more people, too. One study showed that many ex-smokers tried to quit as many as 30 times before finally freeing themselves from the nicotine monster.
What? Medication to help you stop smoking!?
Bupropion, a generic also available under the brand names Zyban and Wellbutrin, is an atypical antidepressant. It's usually prescribed in a dose of 150 mg in people who are trying to quit smoking. You start the medication a week before your quit date and then stay on it for seven to 12 weeks.
While there are some possible side effects — nausea, sleep problems, and a dry mouth, as well as rare side effects like seizures — the drug also helps prevent one common side effect of quitting smoking itself. People who take Zyban as they stop smoking gain less weight than those who don't.
As with many other antidepressants, some people taking Zyban undergone scary behavioral shifts on the drug. If you become depressed, aggressive, or suicidal, let your doctor know right away. Ask others around you to keep an eye on you when you first start the drug.
Varenicline, or Chantix, is another drug that can be prescribed to people determined to quit smoking. This one reduces withdrawal symptoms as well as making smoking less enjoyable, and it helps around 12 more people quit in every 100.
Side effects can include headaches, dysfunctional sleep, and gastrointestinal upset. Rare but serious side effects of Chantix include depression and suicidal thoughts — both symptoms that require immediate medical attention, to the point that it's best if people around you watch out for them when you start the drug. Chantix has further (inconclusively) been linked to an higher risk of heart attack and stroke, but keep in mind that continuing smoking will do that to you, too. It is also important to note that most people tolerate Chantix well.
When Chantix and Zyban haven't helped, there are two more options with less research to back up their efficiency — the hypertension drug clonidine (Catapres) and the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline (Pamelor). Talk to your doctor if your previous attempts to quit smoking have been unsuccessful, even where you have already tried medications. These drugs may offer a way out.
If you are interested in trying Chantix or Zyban, this also starts with a doctor's appointment, since the medications are prescription-only. Talking to your doctor doesn't only give you access to these medications if they are suitable for you, it can also equip you with other knowledge and support that give you a better chance of quitting smoking.
Motivation: A crucial aspect of success
Quitting smoking is incredibly hard for many people, but it's not impossible by any means. You, however, are the key player in your process of liberating yourself from nicotine. Research has shown that people who don't want to quit smoking almost always return to the habit — no surprise, really. This should tell you that it's important to mentally prepare yourself for quitting, and to build up motivation.
For some people, a health problem or the threat of future health problems may make all the difference. For others, saving their loved-ones from second-hand smoke is the real motivator. Some may be motivated by the prospect of saving money. Whatever it is that makes you, personally, excited to become an ex-smoker, focus on that and put all your efforts towards realizing your goal.
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