Most people, whether or not they have ever tried to quit smoking, have heard of the "the patch". The patch is a stop smoking remedy sold in major drugstores and works by alleviating the most uncomfortable of withdrawal symptoms. Cravings and other symptoms are still there, but they are made much more tolerable with the patch.
The patch must be used each and every day for three months in order to be successful. One in five dedicated quitters is able to stop smoking with the help of the patch. Side effects of the patch include skin irritation and some sleep disturbance. Most professionals advise quitters to have counseling along with the patch.
Among the more effective stop smoking remedies is the so-called "pill." The proper name is bupropion or Zyban, and it is a prescription anti-depressant. It wasn't created to help smokers, but it has been proven to decrease the severity and incidence of withdrawal symptoms. Many sources cite Zyban as being two times as effective as the patch. Difficulty sleeping and dry mouth are possible side effects of Zyban. Zyban is convenient and doesn't carry the risk of dependency.
Gun and nicotine inhalers aren't generally as effective, but they are still widely used as stop smoking remedies. Gum is an oral remedy that smokers can use when cravings hit their hardest. When they experience very strong urges to smoke, people can pop in a piece of nicotine gum instead. The timeframe to use nicotine gum is about three months and is approved for frequent use. It's been reported that some people have chewed as many as 24 sticks of gum daily. Conversely, nicotine inhalers allow an individual to obtain a dose anytime they feel a craving, which eases the transition from being a smoker to a non-smoker because it mimics the effects of smoking. However, throat and mouth irritation are known side effects of inhalers.
One can find natural stop smoking remedies to try. A lot of people try things like sprinkling salt on their tongue when a craving hits, for example. This method comes from the school of thought known as behaviorism, which says that people can be taught to react to different stimuli in different ways. People begin to associate cigarette cravings with the unpleasant taste of salt straight from the shaker, thereby increasing their ability to quit.
When quitting smoking, it is an important to drink plenty of water. Smokers also can try drinking a mixture of celery and carrot juice which will minimize the craving for nicotine. Smokers can also be helped by exercise which will keep them preoccupied and will release relaxing, natural endorphins.
These stop smoking remedies, however, are only as effective as individuals make them. Smokers attempting to quit need to have inner drive and motivation in order to get past their addiction. It is important to make quitting a priority. Only dedicated quitters can eventually let go of the habit.