People who decide to quit smoking often underestimate the impact of the withdrawal symptoms on the body. Often, the smoker chooses to go back to smoking because he/she do not know how to/ cannot handle these withdrawal symptoms. The stop smoking medication is definitely of great help; however, this is not exactly the only means to an end.

Warming Up Before Deciding To Quit Smoking Today!

Stop smoking medication is not a method to be used in isolation. It should be used in combination with one or more other methods. Are you really serious about wanting to quit? Then read on and choose one or a combination of the methods described below, and hopefully you will be freed from the clutches of a habit, which guarantees you a painful and untimely death.

1. Plan well – just taking a new year’s resolution will not be sufficient here. You need to plan well on how to go about it, when to start, where to go if and when you cannot manage the withdrawal symptoms, find the contact coordinates of medical or para-medical personnel whom you could call on or contact in case of emergency, request the support from your family, etc. Without planning and strict organization, your effort would be in vain.

2. Register yourself with an anti-smoking clinic – there are a number of clinics, which provide counseling, medical advice, advice on what products to use, etc. You would do well if you enlist in such a clinic, since this functions a little like Alcoholics Anonymous – providing a sounding board as well as sound advice and support as and when required. Staying in close contact with this clinic has prevented people from slipping back into the habit.

3. Use the stop smoking medication with great caution. Learn well about the dosage and method of administration lest you harm yourself instead of helping. Do not increase or decrease the dosage prescribed without consulting the doctor or a qualified medical personnel. Some common stop smoking medications are the nicotine nasal spray, the nicotine gum, the nicotine patch (one of the most popular method), Bupropion SR, nicotine inhaler, and so on.

4. Beware of what you should expect – research well before you take the plunge and educate yourself on what you should expect post quitting. Expect massive moods swings, mild to moderate depression, some weight gain, lack of sleep, interference in your bowel movements (more so if you were in a habit to light a cigarette before you go to the toilet), and so on.

5. There will be a relapse – it has been observed that one can quit fully only after 2-3 replaces. Hence, if even in spite of your best possible efforts and stop smoking medication, you still find yourself with a lighted cigarette in your hand, do not let your determination waver. Keep at it, and very soon, you will be free of the habit forever.