Siletz news /, March 01, 2002, Page 19, Image 19

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Medicine Talk
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Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
An American Lung Association® Fact Sheet
Some side effects from wearing the patch can include:
Nicotine replacement products help relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms
people experience when they quit smoking. Three of these products currently are
available over the counter in the United States - two nicotine patches and nicotine gum.
Nicotine nasal spray and a nicotine inhaler are available only by prescription.
A new non-nicotine pill also is available as a smoking cessation treatment option.
To be most effective, nicotine replacement products should be used in conjunction
with a behavior change program.
The nicotine patch releases a constant amount of nicotine in the body; the
nicotine dissolves right through the skin and enters the body. The patches are
similar to adhesive bandages and are available in different shapes and sizes. A
larger patch delivers more nicotine through the skin.
Less nicotine is obtained through the patch than in cigarettes. The patch also
does not contain all the tars and poisonous gases that are found in cigarettes.
Most of the patch products are changed once every 24 hours. One particular
patch is worn only during waking hours and is removed during sleep.
Studies have shown that it’s much easier to give up the patch than it is to give
up cigarettes for two reasons. First, people usually develop cravings for things
that provide immediate satisfaction, such as chocolate. With the patch, the nicotine
level in the body stays relatively constant day after day. There isn’t immediate
satisfaction, so there’s little craving for a patch. Second, anything people do
often, such as smoking, becomes a habit. Since you apply the patch only once a
day, there’s no strong habit to break.
The goal in using nicotine medications is to stop smoking completely. If you
plan to take nicotine medications, begin using them on the day you quit. If you
continue to have strong urges to smoke or are struggling to stop smoking
completely, ask your health care provider about additional help.
Wearing the nicotine patch lessens chances of suffering from several major
smoking withdrawal symptoms, such as tenseness, irritability, drowsiness, and
lack of concentration.
Nicotine gum contains enough nicotine to reduce the urge to smoke. The
over-the-counter gum is available in the.same strength as the original prescription
product, 2mg (for smokers of 24 or fewer cigarettes daily) and 4mg (for smokers
of 25 or more cigarettes daily).
Like nicotine patches, nicotine gum helps take the edge off cigarette cravings
without providing the tars and poisonous gases found in cigarettes. It’s a temporary
aid that reduces symptoms of nicotine withdrawal after quitting smoking.
Nicotine gum must be used properly in order to be effective. Steps for nicotine
gum users to follow include:
Tooth Talk
no more than 30 a day).
® Use the gum every day for a month or so, then start to reduce the number
by Linda Kruetzer, RDH
of pieces you chew a day, chewing only what you need to avoid
withdrawal symptoms.
® Discontinue use of gum after three months.
Hidden Sugars in Foods
It’s amazing to realize that nine teaspoons of sugar are in one can of Pepsi.
Take a minute to measure out the sugar in a clear glass, teaspoon by teaspoon.
For example, Hawaiian Punch has eleven teaspoons of sugar in a 12-ounce glass
and Tang has eleven teaspoons. This is like drinking liquid sugar.
Now let’s talk about sweetened cereal. In 1° cups of Sugar Smacks,
eight teaspoons of sugar are “hiding.” Most kids also pile a few teaspoons of
sugar on top of their cereal.
Let’s assume that a child has a glass of Tang (11 teaspoons
of sugar), 1 ° cups of cereal (eight), and extra sugar on top (four).
That makes 23 teaspoons of sugar for breakfast, more than
half a cup. No wonder some kids are “hyper” at school. That’s
what excess sugar does to the body, plus it causes tooth decay.
Our bodies need real food. Any kind of real fruit juice is better than
artificially flavored drinks. Cans of frozen concentrated juice are cheaper
and just as good as cans of real fruit juices. Real fruit juice does
contain sugar, but in the form of fructose. This is a different kind
of sugar, a more natural form than table sugar (sucrose).
The amount of sugar we eat adds up. In addition to tooth
decay, excess sugar consumption can cause our bodies to go out
of balance, increasing our risk of developing diabetes.
It takes practice to learn how to look for hidden sugars in so-
called “healthy” foods. Consuming less sugar makes us feel better, decreases
the risk of developing diabetes, and gives us a better checkup at the dentist.
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headaches
dizziness
upset stomach
weakness
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blurred vision
vivid dreams
mild itching and burning on the skin
diarrhea
Stop all smoking when beginning the nicotine gum therapy.
Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes before using or while chewing the gum
(some beverages can reduce its effectiveness).
® Chew the gum slowly on and off for 30 minutes to release most of the
nicotine. Parking the gum between the cheek and gum allows the absorption
of nicotine into the lining of the cheek.
® Chew enough gum to reduce withdrawal symptoms (10-15 pieces a day, but
Nicotine nasal spray, dispensed from a pump bottle, relieves cravings for a
cigarette. It delivers nicotine to the nasal membranes and reaches the bloodstream
faster than any other NRT product. It is available by prescription.
The nicotine inhaler consists of a plastic cylinder containing a cartridge that
delivers nicotine when you puff on it. Although similar in appearance to a cigarette,
the inhaler delivers nicotine into the mouth, not the lung. The nicotine enters the
body much more slowly than the nicotine in cigarettes. The nicotine inhaler is
available only by prescription.
A non-nicotine pill, bupropion hydrochloride (Zyban) was approved in 1997
to help smokers quit. The drug, available by prescription only, also is sold as an
antidepressant under the name Wellbutrin.
With all types of nicotine replacement therapy, it’s necessary to follow the doctor’s
orders and use these products only as prescribed and/or according to labeling. These
products also can be dangerous for pregnant women.
Call your local American Lung Association at 1 -800-LUNG-USA
(1-800-586-4872) or log onto www.lungusa.org for more information.
The Lung Association is offering a new way to stop smoking through its
Freedom From Smoking® online smoking cessation clinic. The program is based
on the Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking® program, which already
has helped thousands of smokers quit smoking for good. The Freedom From
Smoking® online smoking cessation clinic can be accessed day or night, seven
days a week. Visit www.ffsonline.org and stop smoking today!
March 2002
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Siletz News
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