Medications
for quitting:
Medications to quit smoking can increase your chance of staying
smoke-free and help reduce discomforts off quitting. Nicotine
Patches and Nicotine Gum are available for tobacco users (Maine
residents) without insurance coverage for these products. You
can find out about these medications through the Maine Tobacco
HelpLine (1-800-207-1230).
There are products that may help
you quit:
The nicotine in tobacco makes it hard to quit. Nicotine replacement
therapy, or NRT, includes things like nicotine patches, nicotine
gum, nicotine spray and nicotine inhaler. These products can
help you cope with withdrawal symptoms— the changes your
body goes through as it gets used to living without tobacco.
You can get some NRT products over-the-counter. For others,
you need a prescription.
The second kind of product is a prescription
medicine called bupropion. Bupropion does not have nicotine
in it. Still, it helps some people cope with symptoms of withdrawal.
It can also lower the urge to smoke.
How to decide:
Using NRT or bupropion can be a big help as you quit tobacco.
Studies show that these products may even double a person's
chances of quitting for good. Still, they are not for everyone.
Many people quit without using either one.
How do you decide whether to use NRT
or bupropion? A lot depends on what you have tried in the past.
Have you ever used a product while trying to quit before? Was
it helpful? If so, you may want to try the same one again. If
it wasn't helpful, you may want to try another kind this time.
Remember that quitting is not easy. Even if you use these products,
you still need to learn new ways to cope without tobacco.
