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Types of Gum That Help Stop People From Smoking

Quitting smoking is very difficult and there is a high rate of failure. Using aids to help curb the cravings from nicotine withdrawal are a common way to help quit successfully. Nicotine gum is easy to find and use. Understanding how nicotine gum works and what users should avoid can provide the means for success instead of providing a replacement addiction.

  1. NRT

    • Nicotine gum is a type of NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy). NRTs operate with the same purpose: provide nicotine to the user without the inhaled smoke and then they withdraw the chemical gradually to lessen withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine is the addictive element in tobacco products that also controls many chemicals in the brain, decreasing it slowly dramatically reduces the painful withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking.

    Use

    • Chewing nicotine gum is a little different from simply chewing regular gum. The user must chew the gum until it is soft and they taste the nicotine (a peppery taste) and then place it against the inside of their cheek much like chewing tobacco. This allows the product to release the nicotine into the system. It produces a tingling sensation. When that sensation is gone, the user chews the gum again until they taste the nicotine and re-establish the gum's position on the cheek. The planned program lasts from six to twelve weeks.

    Levels

    • Nicotine gum comes in two levels: 2 milligrams and 4 milligrams. Smokers who smoked more than 25 cigarettes a day during their habit are encouraged to use the higher dose first for the first six weeks and then drop down to the lower dose.

    Purchase

    • Users do not need a prescription to purchase nicotine gum. It is available at most drug stores and pharmacy departments as well as in online stores.

    Side Effects

    • Nicotine gum has many side effects in common with all NRTs. The most common are associated with nicotine overdose. These symptoms include nightmares, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, insomnia and lightheadedness. Users who experience any of these symptoms should stop using nicotine gum, or reduce the level of the product. Some users report hair loss or hair thinning because of using nicotine gum.

    Addiction

    • The most serious side effect of using nicotine gum, or any NRT, is the possibility of addiction. For some users the gum becomes a replacement addiction. Because the nicotine gum still provides the chemical that causes the original addiction to the system, it may be as hard to quit as cigarettes. The possibility of addiction to the gum itself increases when people prolong use of the product beyond the prescribed time.

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