Quit Smoking Lozenges – A Simple Solution
AUTHOR: Mark Seagrave
So you’ve decided – it’s time to quit smoking NOW! You’re ready to throw away the last of your cigarettes and begin a new life as a nonsmoker. You’re committed to a new course, a healthier and happier one. Hopefully you’ve created a plan for yourself so that when you are tempted to reach for a cigarette, you can instead choose to do something else.
One small thing that can make a big difference is to purchase some quit smoking lozenges. This is an inexpensive yet very effective method that’s readily available in any drug store. Nicotine lozenges are actually one of the newer methods on the market, following in the footsteps of nicotine patches, inhalers, nasal sprays and chewing gum.
You can find quit smoking lozenges in different dosages, the most common being either 2 mg or 4 mg. You can decide which amount is right for you – and you do this by figuring out how long after you wake up it is before you reach for your first cigarette.
Most quit smoking lozenges manufacturers recommend that you use the product as part of a twelve-week program. Following their recommendations, you would use the quit smoking lozenges every one to two hours for the first six weeks, and then cut back to one lozenge every two to four hours for the next three weeks. During the last three weeks, you would only use one lozenge every four to eight hours.
In order to make this quit smoking method effective, there are a few things you should know. First of all, do not use quit smoking lozenges if you are still smoking cigarettes. Make sure you are ready to stop all tobacco use first.
You should plan on not eating or drinking fifteen minutes before you take a lozenge. It has been documented that certain beverages dilute and reduce the effect you get from the lozenge. You’ll need to plan your meals accordingly.
You want to make sure the lozenge is fully dissolved – never bite it like you might a piece of hard candy. Just keep sucking on it until it’s gone. And follow the recommended dosages carefully. You don’t want to overdo it – for instance, make sure you don’t take more than twenty lozenges a day, no matter how late you stay up!
Once the twelve-week period is up, check with your doctor if you still feel the need for the quit smoking lozenges. You don’t want to exchange on addiction for another. Your physician can suggest alternative methods to continue your quit smoking program safely.
Possible Side Effects
While quit smoking lozenges are safe and effective, there are a few potential side effects, just as there are with all products containing nicotine. Some people have reported trouble sleeping. Others have developed heartburn, hiccups, or gas. Coughing, headaches, and nausea are equally unpleasant. Not everyone gets these side effects, of course, but it’s good to be aware of them in case you start to notice yourself experiencing one or more of them.