Nicotine Gum…The Patch…Electric Cigarettes… Anyone who has ever tried to kick the habit is probably well aware of the many smoking cessation products on the market. 

And with good reason. According to the American Cancer Society, only about 4 to 7 percent of Americans are able to quit smoking without any medication or outside support. With stats like that, it’s obvious why smoking cessation products have been in such high demand over the past 50 years. 

As the dangers of tobacco use remain highly publicized and smoking bans in more public places continue to grow, more smokers are jumping on the smoking cessation bandwagon. According to the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 68.9 percent of adult daily smokers said they were interested in quitting, and in the following NHIS survey in 2012, 42.7 percent of adult daily smokers had actively attempted to quit in the previous year. 

While quitting smoking is one of the best things a person can do for her health, the very tools that assist in the process have some inherent risks of their own. Before starting any new program, it is important that a smoker weigh the risks versus the rewards. 

Nicotine Replacement Therapy 

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) has been studied since the late 1960s when Dr. Murray Jarvick of UCLA began researching nicotine addiction and the efficacy of medication in breaking the habit. Dr. Jarvick was responsible for developing the first commercial NRT products that made their way to the market in 1992. 

Pregnant women and people with heart disease should discuss NRT use with their doctors before starting a treatment method. While continuing to smoke is detrimental for these conditions, NRT use may have more risks than other forms of smoking cessation, and smokers looking to quit should discuss their options with a physician. 

The nicotine patch is one of the most widely known methods of smoking cessation. While the patches available in pharmacies are FDA approved, they come with warnings of side effects such as skin rashes at the site where the patch is applied and sleep problems with the 24-hour patches. Users of the all-day patch have reported problems sleeping because of the unusual dose of nicotine while sleeping as well as vivid, often disturbing dreams. 

Nicotine gum is another common FDA-approved NRT product that is easily obtained at a local pharmacy. 

Some nicotine gum chewers experience: 

• bad tastes in their mouth from the chemicals;
• a tingling feeling on the tongue while chewing the gum;
• upset stomach;
• nausea;
• heartburn; and
• hiccups. 

Other less common forms of NRT products include lozenges, which when dissolved in the mouth, can cause upset stomach, heartburn, hiccups, headaches and excessive gas, especially if swallowed whole. Two NRTs available only by prescription are inhalers and nasal spray, both of which count throat irritation and coughing among the side effects. 

Prescription Medications 

The smoking cessation drug Chantix (varenicline) has been the target of controversy since it was introduced in the late 2000s. 

Users have reported serious changes in their mental state, including: 

• mood swings;
• depression;
• aggressiveness; and
• suicidal behavior. 

Many users have reported vivid, often disturbing dreams and difficulty sleeping. Due to the prevalence of psychological damages, Chantix now comes with a black box warning from the FDA and has several lawsuits pending for damages related to physical and mental problems that occurred to patients using Chantix. 

Bupropion is another prescription drug sold under the brand name Zyban when used as a smoking cessation product. It is also sold under the name Wellbutrin as an antidepressant. This medication is used to treat the withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Side effects reported with Zyban are similar to Chantix in regards to psychotic episodes, mood swings and suicidal thoughts or actions. 

Electronic Cigarettes 

E-cigarettes are a hot new product that many people believe will help them quit smoking. Because they do not contain tobacco, many smokers believe they are safer than cigarettes and will help them wean off actual tobacco cigarettes. 

However, the FDA does not regulate these devices, and a study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal found that self-reports from 949 smokers, 88 of whom used e-cigs, indicated that the e-cigarette users showed no better rate of smoking cessation than the others in the study. 

Some researchers believe that e-cigarettes may have the opposite effect on smoking cessation by providing the false impression that they are healthier. While it is true that these products are less toxic than tobacco, they still contain nicotine and produce many of the adverse effects of cigarettes such as an increased risk of cancer. 

There is also concern that non-smokers may begin e-cigarette use as a socially acceptable and safer way to smoke and develop a nicotine dependency through e-cigarette use. 

Consider Other Smoking Cessation Methods 

Before strike up a smoking cessation program, discuss your options with your doctor. He or she can review your health history and smoking habits and help you determine the best method of smoking cessation for you to attempt. Your doctor may find that there are certain risk factors such as cardiovascular issues that may make certain cessation products more dangerous. 

“There’s really nothing out there that has set itself apart as a winner in the treatment of smoking cessation,” says Dr. Thomas Kiresuk, a professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Some former smokers claim they kicked the habit using hypnosis, while others credit a smoking cessation support group for their success. 

Because every smoker is different, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. To make smoking cessation a long-term goal, individuals looking to quit will need the support of friends, family and doctors to determine the best methods and how to stick to them. Even after you break your smoking habit, it takes continued support and effort to avoid relapsing into the cigarette habit. 

The bottom line is that quitting cigarettes and tobacco undoubtedly improves a person’s health and quality of life, so every effort to quit should be explored. In many cases, the side effects of NRTs or prescription medications may be worth tolerating while kicking the habit, especially if it means living the rest of your life smoke-free. Discuss options with your doctor and develop a plan best suited to your needs.