When it comes to quitting smoking, to increase the chances of success, many people turn to nicotine replacement therapy. This therapy, via a range of methods, is designed to counteract the physical withdrawals and cravings that are involved in smoking cessation. The most well known forms of nicotine replacement therapy are nicotine gum and patches. These are largely available from most pharmacies and even supermarkets. However, they are not without their side... 

When it comes to quitting smoking, one of the most frequently used ways to ease the problems of withdrawal is nicotine gum. The gum is said to help quell cravings, allowing the smoker to adjust to a cigarette-free life without the long running associated problems. Nicotine gum contains a nicotine compared called nicotine polacrilex, which is said to have a potent effect on any cravings. Nicotine gum, however, should not be chewed like normal chewing gum –... 

Nicotine patches are perhaps the most common form of nicotine replacement therapy, designed the ease the discomfort of physical withdrawal when a smoker decides to quit cigarettes. Unlike other methods which work on satisfying an instant craving, patches are designed to continually release nicotine for the duration of wear, which hopefully reduces the chances of an intense craving. Nicotine patches are quite large and resemble a large Band Aid or plaster.... 

While using any form of nicotine replacement therapy – such as gum, patches or lozenges – means you have around a 50% better chance of quitting smoking than when going cold turkey, replacement therapy does have it’s problems. The biggest of these has always been in the cases of particularly heavy smokers, who find the relatively low levels of nicotine used in most replacement therapies to be insufficient. This means their cravings are not dealt with... 

Perhaps the most effective methods of nicotine replacement therapy are the oral ones, such as gum. This is due to their efficacy and speed. When nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, it hits the blood stream extremely quickly and is therefore able to help cease cravings. Thankfully, there are other options and they are just as effective as their better known colleagues. The first option is microtabs. These work like a small tablet, and contain...