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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Get Rid Of Chewing Tobacco Addiction?

sir is it possible to get rid of an addiction of chewing tobacco?
details of the patient:
Age - 60
height - 5'10"
suffering form chronic asthma and one lung is nearly completely damaged and had a history with TB also the patient is prone to high stress attacks and anxiety due to work related issues. The patient has twice been hospitalised for asthma related complexities and has tried to get rid of this addiction but the effects if restrained from that are quite unbearable and it seems impossible for the patient to live without it.
Tue, 11 Oct 2016
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
It is tricky.
It is different from other addictions. It is not predominantly either the high from using that is addicting (there isn't much compared to cocanie or amphetamine) nor is it associated with the withdrawal type symptoms of narcotic addiction. Nicotine is chemically closely related to chemicals that are used to run all of the body's functions (heart rate, breathing, digestion, etc).

Chewing tobacco might not be associated with asthma... depends on the person.

But withdrawal from cigarettes will be associated with feeling awful because the body gets used to the nicotine and doesn't have digession, breathing, heart rate, sweating, run the way it normally would.'

So, first to come off of an addiction you have to want to. In particular the need to quit has to be associated with an immediate sensation as fast and intrusive, and strong as the cues to use. Asthma would be one. Just thinking it would be good to quit would NOT.
Then nicotine replacement is good, like a patch or lozenge.
This has to be tapered lower over time..
Then there are a the particular triggers and how to handle them. Tricky.
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How To Get Rid Of Chewing Tobacco Addiction?

It is tricky. It is different from other addictions. It is not predominantly either the high from using that is addicting (there isn t much compared to cocanie or amphetamine) nor is it associated with the withdrawal type symptoms of narcotic addiction. Nicotine is chemically closely related to chemicals that are used to run all of the body s functions (heart rate, breathing, digestion, etc). Chewing tobacco might not be associated with asthma... depends on the person. But withdrawal from cigarettes will be associated with feeling awful because the body gets used to the nicotine and doesn t have digession, breathing, heart rate, sweating, run the way it normally would. So, first to come off of an addiction you have to want to. In particular the need to quit has to be associated with an immediate sensation as fast and intrusive, and strong as the cues to use. Asthma would be one. Just thinking it would be good to quit would NOT. Then nicotine replacement is good, like a patch or lozenge. This has to be tapered lower over time.. Then there are a the particular triggers and how to handle them. Tricky.