Smoking causes an addiction that can be tough to quit. This is due to the addictive component called nicotine in tobacco. While many quit smoking programs rely on nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), not everyone is interested in making nicotine a part of their treatment regimen. So, how to quit smoking naturally? Well, fortunately, there are nicotine-free resources that can help in tobacco cessation, lowering your risk of tobacco-related cancers, heart diseases, lung disorders, and stroke. Ahead, we will discuss such a nicotine-free approach available in the United States.
There are several options available to help you quit smoking or vaping. Research is still going on to understand the most effective ways to quit smoking, but there is enough evidence of breaking nicotine addiction with other products. The smoking cessation method you select may depend on what your triggers are.
Quit smoking with a nicotine-free approach.
How to quit smoking without nicotine replacement? Check out the evidence-based strategies and some natural ways to quit smoking, along with medical support options below, to help you succeed.
- Quitting smoking cold turkey
Giving up smoking without any outside support is known as quitting smoking cold turkey. Those who use this smoking cessation method basically depend on their willpower to get them through the cravings as well as the withdrawal symptoms. While going cold turkey may not be effective for everybody, many smokers quit smoking this way. Some people are also getting success in cutting all nicotine products abruptly. Whoever tries quitting smoking cold turkey will have a better chance of success if they follow these quit-smoking tips:
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- Avoiding situations that will ultimately trigger smoking
- Distracting themselves by indulging in all new activities
- Getting much-needed support from family, friends, and loved ones.
- Concentrating on the beneficial effects of quitting smoking.
- Giving up gradually
This smoking cessation method involves slowly cutting down the number of cigarettes you are smoking in a day or the frequency of using cigarettes until you have quit completely. However, this technique may not be as effective as quitting straight away. But it’s a good start for some chain smokers who are still not determined to quit right now. Check out these natural ways to quit smoking:
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- Cutting down the number of cigarettes in the cigarette case that you carry each day.
- Slowly increasing the time between smoking a cigarette and vaping.
- Leaving your vape at home whenever you step out.
- Medical support: Nicotine-free medicines
Is it possible to quit smoking without nicotine replacement (NRT)? Well, yes, nicotine-free medicines are less well known than NRT, but they are an incredibly effective way to help you give up smoking. Before we dive into the world of nicotine-free medicines, first let’s understand the effects of nicotine. Nicotine is recognised as a drug that interferes with the working of yoru brain. It makes you crave it more the longer you smoke. Moreover, with time, your brain, dependent on nicotine, feels normal, making quitting tough. So, once you stop, you find it hard to focus, which can feel too intense. These are recognised as nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Prescription-strength nicotine-free medicines may help. Most of these medications act by restricting the effects of nicotine in your brain, making quitting easier for you. Three major medicines got FDA approval to help people quit smoking. You can get these medications through a prescription from a healthcare specialist. Your healthcare professional can advise and help you get a much better chance of quitting for good.
- Varenicline (Chantix): Varenicline helps people stop smoking by lessening the pleasure an individual gets from smoking and reducing the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. It has been shown to be particularly helpful for those trying to quit smokeless tobacco. It can improve yoru chances of stopping smoking when compared to taking no medications at all, in the short term. The Varenicline pill needs to be taken a week before your quit day. Or you can begin taking it and then select a quit date within the next few weeks. It is meant to be taken after meals with food or a full glass of water. Your healthcare provider will increase the daily dose over the first eight weeks you take it. If you have any problems with higher doses, a lower dose may be recommended while you try to quit. Generally, it is recommended for 12 weeks, but individuals who quit during that period may receive the same medicinal treatment for another 12 weeks to boost their chances of staying off tobacco. Before beginning the treatment with varenicline, let your healthcare specialist know about any medical conditions and allergies you have, including if you have kidney problems or might be pregnant.
- Bupropion: Another FDA-approved medicine for quitting smoking is bupropion. It is an antidepressant available in an extended-release form to help reduce cravings and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. The medicine targets certain chemicals that are associated with nicotine cravings. Other forms of bupropion, including Aplenzin and Wellbutrin, are not approved by the FDA for tobacco cessation. The medication works best when the treatment begins 1 to 2 weeks before your quit date. The usual recommended dosage is 1 or 2 150 mg tablets per day. If you quit after taking this medication for 12 weeks, your healthcare specialist may advise you to keep taking it for a while longer to maintain the effects and stop you from going back to smoking. One should not take bupropion if they have seizures, liver disease, manic depressive illness, eating disorders, or heavy alcohol use. Moreover, those receiving treatments with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) should not take this quit-smoking drug. Before starting treatment with bupropion, it is important to inform teh healthcare provider if you have any allergies or medical conditions, including if you might be expecting a baby.
Conclusion
Quitting smoking without using nicotine in their treatment is quite possible. Remember, the discomfort of withdrawal is temporary, but the health benefits of quitting smoking last a lifetime. The attempt to follow healthy lifestyle changes in combination with nicotine-free medications brings you closer to complete freedom from smoking. You don’t need nicotine to quit smoking; simply following the above-mentioned quit smoking tips can help you succeed.
