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Is There Any Medication That Will Help Me In Quitting Smoking?
Question: I have been smoking from past 8-9 years. I am a above moderate smoker (less than 10 cigs. per day)
addition to point 1. --- I have tried nicotin patch, it's hasn't helped any way to quit smoking. any medicines help me to quit ?
addition to point 1. --- I have tried nicotin patch, it's hasn't helped any way to quit smoking. any medicines help me to quit ?
Brief Answer:
Bupropion can be used
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I read your concerns about ill effects of smoking and appreciate your effort to quit smoking.
First of all we need to understand that treatment of nicotine addiction comprises both medications as well as motivation enhancement therapy. The earlier part is to help you with withdrawal symptoms while the other part is to motivate you and to help you bring all resources at your disposal. In this manner both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms are addressed in appropriate manner.
Secondly we also need to understand that it is always better to stop it abruptly for a moderate smoker like you as slow reduction of number of cigarettes often brings subotimal results.
Regarding the medication I feel Bupropion can be the drug of choice for you. This is because it helps in reduction of craving and elevates the mood and does not cause weight gain (a common outcome after abstinence from smoking). Although this is prescription only medication and you need to get a prescription from local doctor to buy it from pharmacy.
I often start with 150 mg a day followed by 300 mg after five days of use. (To be taken in the morning). Once a steady state is achieved (7 days after attainment of 300mg) a quit date can be decided by either the person or doctor keeping all the immediate factors in consideration.
I hope this helps you. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards
Bupropion can be used
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I read your concerns about ill effects of smoking and appreciate your effort to quit smoking.
First of all we need to understand that treatment of nicotine addiction comprises both medications as well as motivation enhancement therapy. The earlier part is to help you with withdrawal symptoms while the other part is to motivate you and to help you bring all resources at your disposal. In this manner both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms are addressed in appropriate manner.
Secondly we also need to understand that it is always better to stop it abruptly for a moderate smoker like you as slow reduction of number of cigarettes often brings subotimal results.
Regarding the medication I feel Bupropion can be the drug of choice for you. This is because it helps in reduction of craving and elevates the mood and does not cause weight gain (a common outcome after abstinence from smoking). Although this is prescription only medication and you need to get a prescription from local doctor to buy it from pharmacy.
I often start with 150 mg a day followed by 300 mg after five days of use. (To be taken in the morning). Once a steady state is achieved (7 days after attainment of 300mg) a quit date can be decided by either the person or doctor keeping all the immediate factors in consideration.
I hope this helps you. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
my question wasn't posted completely. I have typed it again now. pls refer below:
I have been smoking from past 8-9 years. I am a above moderate smoker (less than 10 cigs. per day). I want to quit smoking. but I am finding it difficult to leave this habit.
1. Can u guide me on how to quit it? Is there any test that can be done to check if the smoking has affected the lungs & other internal organs ?
2. I also drink occasionally (socially). I dont drink much but I want to know if my drinking has affected the liver & other internal organs or not. Any test is there to check this?
addition to point 1. ------ I have already tried nicotin gum /patch which hasn't helped me. any medicines that can help ?
I have been smoking from past 8-9 years. I am a above moderate smoker (less than 10 cigs. per day). I want to quit smoking. but I am finding it difficult to leave this habit.
1. Can u guide me on how to quit it? Is there any test that can be done to check if the smoking has affected the lungs & other internal organs ?
2. I also drink occasionally (socially). I dont drink much but I want to know if my drinking has affected the liver & other internal organs or not. Any test is there to check this?
addition to point 1. ------ I have already tried nicotin gum /patch which hasn't helped me. any medicines that can help ?
Brief Answer:
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Regarding your first question I think I narrated what can be done to help the individual who is smoking for a long time. The personal motivation is key which is enhanced with use of motivational enhancement therapy. The other part is medications as narrated above.
There is no such tests to quantify the damage but without any doubt it is well established that the smoking causes multiple damages through out the body. For the lungs a pulmonary function test can be used to estimate the loss to lungs. I must acknowledge that any test have the limitations and same is true for PFT.
For the effect of drinking you can go for live function test and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) test as they estimate the loss of liver due to alcohol intake. However it is important to note that moderate social drinking hardly causes any serious damage in otherwise healthy individual.
I hope this helps you further. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards
Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Regarding your first question I think I narrated what can be done to help the individual who is smoking for a long time. The personal motivation is key which is enhanced with use of motivational enhancement therapy. The other part is medications as narrated above.
There is no such tests to quantify the damage but without any doubt it is well established that the smoking causes multiple damages through out the body. For the lungs a pulmonary function test can be used to estimate the loss to lungs. I must acknowledge that any test have the limitations and same is true for PFT.
For the effect of drinking you can go for live function test and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) test as they estimate the loss of liver due to alcohol intake. However it is important to note that moderate social drinking hardly causes any serious damage in otherwise healthy individual.
I hope this helps you further. Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
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