Give Up Smoking With Nicotine Gum

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Give Up Smoking With Nicotine Gum

Give Up Smoking With Nicotine Gum - Nicorette or Rite Aid

When smokers try to quit, the cravings that they feel are mostly due to nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine is the addictive substance of tobacco, and smokers become accustomed to the stimulation that nicotine provides. Nicotine Replacement Therapy can help overcome these cravings for nicotine. Nicotine gum is one such Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Some of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include irritability, inability to concentrate, drowsiness, insomnia, and dry cough. An NRT like nicotine gum reduces these symptoms and allows the user to gradually cut down on the amount of nicotine his system needs to function normally. So why is nicotine gum not as bad for you as a nicotine cigarette? While the smoker continues to be exposed to nicotine through the nicotine gum, exposure to the other toxic substances contained in cigarette smoke is eliminated.

Unlike nicotine patches, nicotine gum allows the user to control when and how much nicotine goes into his system. As an added benefit, nicotine gum provides an oral replacement for smokers who have difficulty overcoming the habit of having a cigarette in their mouths.

Nicotine gum is usually available in at least two strengths. Heavy smokers are advised to start off with nicotine gum containing 4 mg of nicotine, which is a relatively high amount of nicotine. As the smoker's dependence on nicotine is reduced, the strength of the gum can also be reduced to 2 mg. Most manufacturers offer gum in 2 mg and 4 mg strengths.

Nictoine gum can be chewed at certain intervals during the day to maintain a constant level of nicotine in the bloodstream, or it can be chewed only when there is a craving for cigarettes. Nicotine gum is usually taken at regular intervals at the beginning of the therapy and then gradually reduced over a number of weeks.

As is the case with any NRT, it is advisable to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before using nicotine gum. Your doctor or pharmacist can offer guidelines about how to use the nicotine gum and the length of time the therapy should continue in your particular case. Using nicotine gum in combination with certain medications may be contraindicated (meaning that the combination of nicotine gum with certain medications should not be used), so it is especially important to consult with your doctor if you are taking any drugs or other medications, whether by prescription or over the counter from your pharmacist.

Nicotine gum is not the same as regular gum. Nicotine gum should not be chewed continuously, but rather only until you feel a slight tingling in your mouth. When this happens, stop chewing and put the gum between your teeth and your cheek for about one minute until the tingling stops. Then resume chewing slowly. Repeat this cycle for about 30 minutes or until there is no more taste left in the gum.

Gradually reduce the amount of gum you are using over a period of about three months. By this time, you should be chewing no more than two or three pieces of nicotine gum per day. Do not continue using the gum for longer than three months unless you have been specifically advised to do so by your doctor.

Most people can use nicotine gum without experiencing any side effects, but adverse reactions sometimes do occur. It is possible that nicotine gum may bring on headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, and soreness in the mouth. If these conditions persist, it is important to consult with your doctor. More severe side effects include seizures and difficulty breathing. If this happens, you must seek immediate medical attention.

Thousands of people have found NRT to be an effective aid to quitting smoking. The nicotine replacement method you decide on is a personal preference, but chewing nicotine gum has the advantages of being easy to use and of administering doses of nicotine when it is most needed.

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