Do You Stop Smoking With The Aid Of E-Cigs?

Nicotine patches and nicotine gums were available only with a doctor's prescription when they were first introduced. After several years of proven safety when taken as directed the products were offered for sale over the counter. The quit smoking products were an instant hit with smokers.

The patches provide a slow release of nicotine while the gums provide nicotine release on demand. The goal of both stop smoking products is to help an addicted tobacco user gradually quit his habit with a gradual withdrawal of nicotine over a ten week period of time. The nicotine replace patches and gums continue to sell well today.

The nicotine patch is a program designed to help smokers quit smoking over a period of ten weeks. To this end consumers are advised to replace the patch once every 24 hours. Some consumers report sleep problems caused by the patch and choose to remove the patches each night. The program steps down the nicotine dosage over a 10 week period to gradually wean smokers from their addiction to nicotine.

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A two pack a day smokers spends at least $70 per week on his habit. The total cost of using nicotine patches for 10 weeks would be a little more than $200 which is far cheaper than the current cost of tobacco cigarettes. A drawback for patches is that not all smokers can tolerate the patch. Diabetics are warned not to use nicotine replacement products which eliminates 8% of the U.S. population from using this product

Nicotine gum is another popular stop smoking aid with consumers. Similar to regular chewing gum each piece is wrapped separately in foil. The strength of 2 or 4 mg is comparable to the nicotine delivered by one or two standard cigarettes.

The user controls the nicotine release of the gum. First the gum is chewed for a few seconds until it becomes soft and creates a tingly feeling in the mouth. Then it is tucked between the user's cheek and gum and held there for a few minutes. As needed the gum is chewed again for a few seconds to release more of the nicotine tingling sensation. One piece of gum will last for about 30 minutes before the nicotine is depleted.

There can be side effects associate with nicotine gum. Reports of uncontrollable hiccups and a feeling that the throat muscles were constricted may be caused by swallowing saliva containing high doses of nicotine. Nicotine will constrict blood vessels and use of the stop smoking gum over a long period of time may lead to gum disease.

Use of nicotine replacement products in the first trimester of pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of birth defects. No nicotine products should be used by pregnant women or by nursing mothers. Risk groups are identified on the product packaging.

The antidepressant prescriptive drugs that are used in stop smoking programs have raised concerns about serious side effects. Although the quit rate is somewhat higher with the stop smoking pills they should be taken under the supervision of a physician. The pills do not replace the nicotine for a smoker but they provide a calming feeling and reduce the physical cravings of nicotine withdrawal.

You can't compare patches, gums and pills meant help you stop smoking with electronic cigarettes. The e-cigarette is meant to provide safer alternative to smoking rather than to help you quit. Smokers who buy e-cigarette (s) are those who want to continue smoking but in a healthier and environmentally friendly manner.

Mary Kay Rivers is an acclaimed expert on all facets of electronic cigarettes. Her articles about real electronic cigarettes and how to buy e-cigarette have become very popular.