What is Drug Treatment for Smoking Cessation?
Smoking cessation medications are a treatment that can be prescribed by a specialist to help the smoker quit smoking. These medications combat tobacco dependence, reduce the need to smoke and the withdrawal syndrome.
Why is it done?
Smoking is highly detrimental to health, with tobacco being the cause of more than 80% of lung cancer diagnoses. Tobacco consumption can also cause respiratory and cardiovascular complications, as well as accelerate skin aging, increase the risk of emphysema, chronic bronchitis, COPD, stomach ulcers, aggravate asthma and yellow teeth.
Despite its consequences, quitting smoking is very difficult because of the addictive effect of nicotine. Many patients seek pharmacological treatment to stop smoking because they have not been able to fight the withdrawal syndrome with other methods.
What does it consist of?
Pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation consists of specific medications prescribed by the health care provider that do not contain nicotine. Therefore, they work differently from nicotine patches, gum and other nicotine substitutes that are also commonly used for smoking cessation.
Preparing for treatment
It is essential that the patient is determined to quit smoking. A plan should also be developed with the medical specialist to know how to manage abstinence.