The whole idea behind nicotine replacement therapy is that it gives your body a small amount of nicotine to help curb the cravings. This small amount helps to keep the withdrawals to a minimum. Keep in mind though that nicotine replacement therapy will cause you to go through withdrawals twice. First when you quit smoking then when you stop the therapy. You do not need to see a doctor to get this form of therapy.
Many people can find this very difficult, especially the second time around as that old familiar edgy feeling comes back and you basically have to go through a milder form of withdrawals for the next three days. People aren’t really prepared for that second wave of withdrawal and often have a hard time letting go of the nicotine replacement therapy. Those that can, have made a very important step to becoming smoke free and changing their lifestyle.
There are many methods of nicotine replacement therapy; the patch is the most commonly used. Normally you will start with a higher dose and gently work your way down over a 6 to 12 week period of time. Side effects are common as the amount delivered in the 24 hour period is often too much for the body to handle.
The feeling of nausea and breaking out in a cold sweat is one of the side effects associated with using the patch. Often, this is an indication that the dose of the patch you are wearing is too high for your system and you can either try a lower dose patch the next day or it might be wise if you to look into a different form of nicotine replacement therapy. Although many people have used this with great success, everybody’s body chemistry is different and yours may not be adapted to this form of nicotine replacement therapy.
Nicotine replacement therapy comes in various forms, things have come a long way from just being a patch. Another form is nicotine gum, which has improved in taste over the years, you no longer have the pepper taste that would linger in your mouth. Now nicotine gum comes in fruit flavors that you can chew without feeling sick. You can control the dosage according to your own withdrawal symptoms.
Another form of nicotine replacement therapy is the lozenge, which is available in an assortment of flavors. These tablets will dissolve slowly in your mouth sending a low dose of nicotine to your body. The tablets usually work for 2 to 4 hours, but you can adjust your dosage schedule depending on your need. It’s possible that you will have some type of secondary withdrawal as you slowly sever your ties to the lozenge. Being smoke free is worth it in the end.
Now if find yourself needing something in your hand then you can look to the nicotine inhaler to help curb that desire. This too will release a low dose of nicotine which you inhale through this device. I have never tried this myself but I have talked to several people who had success with it.
Most nicotine replacement therapy options are available over the counter, helping you avoid any added expense that seeing a doctor would create. You will also benefit from the online support that many of the products provide, along with several forums in which you can receive support from your peers that are also trying to stop smoking.
The side effects of nicotine replacement therapy can vary from insomnia to headache to nausea, diarrhea, or constipation. Some of these side effects can be temporary, but if they are too much for you, you should consider lowering your dosage or changing to another form of nicotine replacement therapy. You might also want to try a non-nicotine based medication.
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