As more and more reports about hazards of smoking come up, we become more determined to quit smoking. However, the hurdle is that smoking cessation is easier said than done. People try all their lives before they successfully quit smoking.

Smoking effects

Smoking is the highest preventable cause of death and every year millions of people die every year because of it. Smoking not only leads to death but also diminishes the quality of life. Many smokers do realise this but they are gripped into the habit so badly that in spite of readiness to quit smoking, they are unable to give up. This is because of nicotine addiction. Many medications have surfaced in the market to help people with nicotine addiction.

Which medicines are available?

In earlier days, herbal remedies and nicotine replacement therapies were available for smoking cessation. Hypnotherapy and counselling was also available to aid smoking cessation. However, all these methods had many limitations and had a very low success rate. Nowadays, two drugs are available, Chantix and Zyban, which are touted to have a higher success rate and very few limitations.

How they work?

Nicotine replacement therapy contains nicotine and works under the theory that substituting smokers from one form of nicotine to other will help them quit smoking. However, the problem is that a person does not actually withdraw from nicotine and can experience withdrawal symptoms once he stops taking the treatment and starts smoking again.

Herbal remedies are said to contain herbs that help in smoking cessation, however the truth behind this is not yet established. Counselling and hypnotherapy answer the psychological needs but do not address the physical addiction.

Zyban works by reducing withdrawal symptoms and Chantix works by reducing withdrawal symptoms, nicotine cravings, and pleasure a smoker gets while smoking.

Ingredients of medicines

Nicotine replacement therapies contain nicotine and herbal remedies contain ancient herbs. The active ingredient in Zyban is bupropion and in Chantix is varenicline.

Side effects of medicines

Some of the side effects of nicotine replacement therapies are as dizziness, headache, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting, indigestion and palpitations.

There are not many limitations of Zyban and Chantix. The main limitation of the two new smoking cessation drugs is that they cause undesirable effects on smoker.

Side effects of Zyban

Some of the side effects of Zyban are:

• Dizziness



• Anxiety and agitation



• Depression



• Dry mouth



• Constipation



• Abdominal pain



• Nausea



• Fever



• Sweating



• Rash or itching



• Insomnia



• Headache



• Concentration disturbance

Side effects of Chantix

Side effects of Chantix are as follows:

• Nausea



• Abdominal Pain



• Flatulence



• Dyspepsia



• Vomiting



• Constipation



• Gastroesophageal reflux disease



• Salivary Gland Conditions



• Dry mouth



• Insomnia



• Abnormal dreams

Dosages available

The recommended dosage of various nicotine replacement therapies are as follows:

Nicotine Patches

More than 20 cigarettes ? 15-22 mg for 4 weeks and a weaker patch for another 4 weeks (5-14 mg)

Nicotine Gum

Many smokers should start using the 2-mg dose. However, you can use 4-mg gum if you are a heavy smoker

Dosage of Zyban and Chantix

The maximum recommended dosage for Zyban is 300mg a ay. You should start with 150mg a day for the first three days of the treatment and move up the dosage to 150mg tablets twice a day. However, make sure you wait for at least 8 hours before you take the second dosage. The dosage should not exceed 300mg under any circumstances.

Chantix is available in 0.5mg and 1mg tablets. These tablets are color -coded white and blue for easy recognition. You should start with lower dosage and take 0.5mg dosage once a day till three days. After that, the dosage should increase to 0.5mg dosage twice a day. You should increase the dosage on the seventh day to 1mg dosage twice a day till the end of the treatment.

How to take those medicines?

Though many medications are available over the counter, you will need prescription for Zyban and Chantix. Consult a doctor and ask him to suggest the best smoking cessation method.