Smoking and Tobacco

Quitting Tips

Quit Smoking Quitting tobacco use is hard and may take several serious tries before you are successful. But - half of all people who have ever smoked have quit! YOU can, too.

When you have decided to set a quit date - make a plan. Just as you would not start out on a vacation without a road map, you need to have a plan ready for this important change in your life.

There are new medicines that can help "take the edge off" of withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking.

To replace some of the nicotine that you normally received with a cigarette, you can choose from a nicotine gum, a nicotine lozenge, a patch applied to your skin, a nasal spray or a nicotine inhaler. There isn't one form that is better than another -- it depends on what you prefer. The gum, lozenge,and patch are bought over-the-counter in most states, and the spray and inhaler require a physician's prescription. The patch may be the easiest to use, since it is changed only once a day. The other forms of nicotine replacement require repeated uses throughout the day. About 8 to 12 weeks of nicotine replacement is recommended. Read the patient instructions for the correct way to use each of these products. Talk with your health care provider, especially if you are taking other medications or have a serious health problem.
Another option is taking a smoking cessation medication, including Bupropion (Zyban) or Varenicline (Chantix). Both are pills that do not have nicotine in them but have been found to take away some of the desire for a cigarette. They work by blocking the pleasant effects of nicotine on the brain. These medications are taken for one week BEFORE you quit smoking - so that there is a good level of the medicine in your system when you do quit. At least 7-12 weeks of medicine is usually recommended. A 2008 study in the American Journal of Health Behavior found that varenicline was more effective in quitting smoking than bupropion or a placebo. Discuss these medications with a physician, who will need to prescribe one for you.

Medicine alone is not magic. You need to learn to handle urges to smoke and other ways to manage stress.
- Make a list of your 5 most important reasons for quitting cigarettes.
- Identify those times when you think the urge to smoke may be very strong.
- Talk with your physician or health care provider about ways to stay smoke-free.
- Find a friend or family member who will support and encourage you during this very important change.
- Reward yourself for small successes - such as 24 hours of not smoking, and then 1 week of not smoking.

For More Information:

Do You Smoke? Do You Want to Quit?

Tobacco Cessation Guideline from the Surgeon General
Tobacco Free Nurses

You Can Quit Smoking (Consumer Guide)

Reference:
Nides, M., Glover, E., Reus, V., Christen, A., Make, B., Billing, C. and Williams, K. (2008). Varenicline Versus Bupropion SR or Placebo from Smoking Cessation: A Pooled Analysis. American Journal of Health Behavior. 32(6): 664-675.

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Last Reviewed: May 29, 2008

Karen L. Ahijevych, PhD, RN
Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
College of Nursing
Comprehensive Cancer Center
James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute
The Ohio State University