Ways to quit smoking

Tweet

Here is the deal all. I am basically looking for ways to quit smoking. Here are some that I have come across, I would love to hear of more from every one Atropine and scopolamine combination therapy: Some smoking cessation clinics offer a program using shots of the anticholinergic drugs atropine and scopolamine to help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. These drugs are more commonly prescribed for other reasons, such as digestive system problems, motion sickness, or Parkinson’s disease. The treatment usually involves shots given in the clinic on one day, followed by a few weeks of pills and wearing patches behind the ear. It may include other drugs to help with side effects as well. Possible side effects of this treatment can include dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, an altered sense of taste and smell, problems urinating, and blurry vision. People who are pregnant or have a history of heart problems, glaucoma, or uncontrolled high blood pressure are not allowed to participate in these programs. Some clinics claim high success rates, but there is no published scientific research to back up these claims. Both atropine and scopolamine are FDA approved for other uses, but they have not been formally studied or approved for help in quitting smoking. Before considering such a program, you may want to ask the clinic about long-term success rates (up to a year). Because these medicines are directed only at the physical aspect of quitting, you may also want to ask if the program includes counseling or other methods aimed at the psychological aspects of quitting. Hypnosis might be useful for some people. Ask your doctor if he or she can recommend a good hypnotist if you are interested in this. Acupuncture has been used for quitting smoking, but there is little evidence to support its effectiveness. Acupuncture, when it is done, is typically done on the ears on particular ear sites. Although there is a very weak suggestion that acupuncture might lower the desire for smoking, there still is no solid evidence that it is truly effective as a smoking cessation tool (see ACS document on Acupuncture.) For a list of local physician acupuncturists, contact the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture at 1-800-521-2262. Low level laser therapy, also called cold laser therapy, is a related technique. Cold lasers are sometimes used for acupuncture, with laser beams to stimulate the body's acupoints rather than needles. The treatment is supposed to relax the smoker and release endorphins (naturally-occurring pain relief substances) in the body to simulate the effects of nicotine in the brain, or balance the body’s energy to relieve the addiction. Despite claims of success by some cold laser therapy providers, there is no scientific evidence that shows this is an effective method of helping people stop smoking (see ACS document on Cold Laser Therapy.) Filters that reduce tar and nicotine in cigarettes are generally not effective since studies show that smokers who use filters actually tend to smoke more. Smoking deterrents such as over-the-counter products that change the taste of tobacco, "stop smoking diets" that curb nicotine cravings, and combinations of vitamins have little scientific evidence to support their claims. The same is true of “homeopathic” aids and herbal supplements. Because they are marketed as dietary supplements (as opposed to drugs), they don’t need FDA approval to be sold. The manufacturers don’t have to prove they’re effective, or even safe. Be sure to look closely at the product label of any product claiming it can help you stop smoking. No dietary supplement has been proven effective in helping people quit smoking. Some of these supplements have no nicotine in them, but have multiple combinations of herbal preparations. They too have no proven track record of helping people to stop smoking.