Prescription Medications
Available only by doctor’s prescription, there are medications available to help you stop smoking. Buproprion SR (Zyban) is a nicotine-free antidepressant that has been found to reduce withdrawal symptoms and help you quit. Varenicline (Chantix) is a relatively new non-nicotine drug that attaches to nicotine receptors in your brain, reducing the pleasure you get from smoking and easing the withdrawal symptoms. The pros of medications are that you are under a doctor’s care and supervision, the medications work very well for many people, and they contain no nicotine. The cons are that, like all medications, you must take them as directed, on a regular schedule, and you may experience side effects. The drugs take a week or more to take effect, and they work to varying degrees depending on the individual. Finally, unless covered by health insurance, they are expensive.
- Cost: $120 to $250 per 30-day supply (or health insurance co-pay)
It’s Never Too Late (Or Too Early) To Quit Smoking.
Whether you’ve been smoking for a year, a decade, or a lifetime, quitting your smoking habit will make a positive difference in your health. Here’s a timeline from the US Surgeon General’s Report:
- 20 minutes after smoking your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure drop to healthier levels.
- 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases. Food will taste better and your sense of smell returns to normal.
- 1 to 9 months after quitting, your lung function continues to improve; coughing and shortness of breath decrease.
- 1 year after quitting, your excess risk of coronary heart disease is now half that of a smoker’s.
- 5 to 15 years after quitting, your risk of stroke is reduced to that of a non-smoker.
- 10 years after quitting, your risk of death from lung cancer is now decreased by 50%. Your risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas have all decreased.
- 15 years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's.
Don’t Give Up!
The average person takes between two and four tries to successfully quit smoking. If you try to quit and find yourself smoking again a few weeks or months later, don’t get discouraged. Quitting is hard. Try to figure out what caused your setback, and ask your doctor, family, and friends for help to figure out a strategy around it. Keep at it and try again, for your sake and the sake of those who care about you.