Quitting Smoking: an Exercise in Patience & Perseverance

Here’s the cold, hard truth about quitting smoking: it’s hard and the experience is different for everybody.

We have all heard the tale of those lucky people who go cold turkey once and find their smoking days are behind them. Those individuals, however, are the exception.

According to the American Lung Association, it takes an average of 8-10 attempts to quit smoking. Other research suggests it could take 30 or more tries before succeeding.

While these numbers may sound discouraging to any first- (or second- or even fifth-) time quitter, there is hope to be found in repeated relapses. That is, with every attempt you learn more about what triggers your urge to smoke and what methods do or don’t help curb cravings. In that light, there are no failures; just lessons that take you one step closer to figuring out how to successfully quit.

For most people, the best way to quit will be some combination of medicine, a method to change personal habits, and emotional support. Here’s a look at some of those approaches:

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): The main addictive substance in tobacco, nicotine creates an actual physical dependence and leads to withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit. In the form of gum, patches, sprays, inhalers, or lozenges, NRT supplies small amounts of nicotine to lessen withdrawal symptoms.

According to the CDC, using two NRTs together can boost your chances for quitting successfully.

Prescription Medication: If you have a severe dependency on nicotine (smoke more than 1 pack a day, smoke within 5 minutes of waking, wake up at night to smoke), you may want to talk to your health care provider about using prescription medicine to help you quit. 

There are currently two FDA-approved prescription medications to help you quit:

Varenicline, sold under the brand name Chantix, works by blocking the pleasant effects of nicotine on the brain, making smoking less appealing.

Bupropion, marketed as Wellbutrin, Zyban, and available in generic form, reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

While these drugs are non-addictive, there are potential side effects, and they may not be recommended for individuals with certain physical or mental health conditions.

Support Groups and Programs: For many smokers, working with a support program gives them a much better chance of quitting. The following free programs offer support in a variety of forms including daily email programs, a quit coach, online groups, and more.

• American Lung Association: Freedom From Smoking
• American Cancer Society: Empowered to Quit
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1-800-QUIT-NOW

Whether you’re trying to quit for the first time or having yet another go at it, remember quitting is possible. Embrace the journey to living smoke-free, relapses and all, and stay focused on how your physical health and life will improve when you finally succeed.

 
Michael Algus, MD, FACP is a pulmonologist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.