Do Stop Smoking Patches and Pills Really Work?

 

If you’re considering using smoking patches or pills as an aid to quit then you should understand the limitations as well as the good with these methods.

Patches and pills can work for some people while for others they don’t. It all depends upon the kind of smoker you are and the kind of addiction or habit you have with nicotine.

Both smoking cessation methods provide a person with reduced doses of nicotine that over time are designed to wean them off the addiction.

Many people confuse addiction with habit. For sake of argument if we separate addiction and define that as the chemical dependency on nicotine then patches and pills can work if that is the sole chain that links you to smoking. The fact is the body can be rid of nicotine in just a few days. In fact, why not go “cold turkey” and save yourself a lot of money and time?

Quitting smoking should be so easy, right? The problem is  the physical addiction is only part of the problem.

What is the Smoking Habit Addiction?

Like an iceberg the addiction is the small part on the surface – it’s the habit addiction underneath  (controlled by the subconscious) that presents the primary problem to people remaining smoke free. And where the patches and pills method breaks down.

What do we mean by habit addiction?

It’s the emotional, mental, and social element of the smoking habit. It’s the action of taking a cigarette out of the package, putting it to your lips and lighting it that is lost when quitting. It feels good, right? It’s the satisfaction of feeling relaxed when having a coffee or drink. It’s not the nicotine missed the most but the patterns of behavior related to smoking that have become a habit.

A pill and patch can satisfy the craving for nicotine but as we’ve identified for most smokers that’s the least of the problems to tackle in quitting.

To work for most a smoking cessation method must address both the physical side of smoking as well as the psychological side of it. The mind needs to find a substitute for the pleasure of the smoking habit. This is where behavior modification can help. Negative behaviors need to be replaced by positive ones  to become a non-smoker for life.

The Good and Bad of Pills and Patches:

Well known stop smoking pills include Chantix, Varenicline and Zyban. Varenicline replaces the receptors nicotine attaches to in the nerves of the brain. They help to reduce the amount of nicotine that reaches the brain, which in turn helps the brain to have less and less of a craving for nicotine.

Zyban is composed of a substance called bupropion hydrochloride. What this substance does is increases the rate at which two hormones called dopamine and norepinephrine are produced. They function in much the same way nicotine does – they relax and soothe the human body. By so doing they reduce a nicotine craving and the craving becomes less and less. Chantix was to be the wonder drug to stop smoking but a number of side-effects have been reported with this drug.

The pill method requires a prescription and you should consult with your Doctor for the best advice on whether any of these drugs is right for you.

The nicotine patch has been around since 1993 and is one of the most popular methods of quitting smoking. Once applied to the skin it delivers a controlled and steady dose of nicotine throughout the course of the day. It then minimizes the effects of nicotine withdrawal. In time the patch loses its strength and the user receives a smaller and smaller dose which helps to wean them off needing the patch.

The downside to the patch is one form of nicotine is being replaced with another. Some individuals are okay with this while others are not. They can also cause irritation of the skin, which in some cases can be severe enough to stop its use completely.

Patches and pills are viable methods to quit smoking as a starting point. But if you find after you’ve weaned yourself off cigarettes the cravings continue or come back at a later point it”s more likely you’re experiencing cravings connected with the habit. If this is the case consider an alternative method for your next attempt.

Hypnosis attempts to overcome cravings and so if you’re interested in more information about my own online or in-office sessions then check out my quit smoking hypnosis programs.

Erika Slater, CH
Director
Free At Last Hypnosis