Nicotine replacement

[Martha30]

OK, so now I have read Allen Carr's book.  Understand his concept, but how many people actually do not use nicotine replacement medication.  It is recommended that you stay on such for 12 weeks.  Any suggestions, do you really need to keep feeding the nicotine monster??  Since putting down cigs, I've been using the lozengers. Are these prolonging the addiction to nicotine or just easing the temporary fear of quitting smoking??  Guess my question is, should I chance giving up the nicotine replacement before 12 weeks??

[petlover98]

NRT's or Nicotine Replacement Therapy is an aid but you still have to do the work. You still get cravings but you work on the behavorial side FIRST and then once you're time has ended on the program then work on the addiction.

A lot of people that KNOW they can't do it cold turkey such as those with mental illness, some times only quit through this process.  I know personally being bipolar, there wasn't even 1 whole day I could make it through cold turkey.

Each person is different and personally for me Allen Carr was just saying stuff we already knew over and over and over.  I got nothing out of it, I just know I HAVE TO DO THE WORK ON MY OWN!

[Patty-cake]

NRTs are a choice. Allen Carr doesn't subscribe to them and that's okay. Use an NRT if you need one. Allen Carr helps you look at quitting in a different way. He helps you realize that your not giving anything up by quitting smoking. That's the biggest message from the book that I got. Like all things, take what you need from the book and leave the rest.

When using an NRT, it does delay the physical addiction part of quitting, like Petlover said above, so you have a chance to work on the behavior side of your addiction. For many, dealing with both behavior and physical can be overwhelming.

So, whatever you feel is right for you is how you handle your quit. Both ways are correct.

[Nyima_1.6.13]

Smoking is a physical, habitual and psychological addiction! In theory a NRT helps you address the habitual and psychological aspects while weaning you off nicotine! I went cold turkey. That is what I wanted to do but you have to figure out what works for you! Just be careful how you are using your NRT so you don't have more difficulty giving that up! Congrats on your choice to quit and I wish you    much success!

[Martha30]

Thanks for the feedback.  Don't believe there is a problem giving up NRTs.  And the book is very positive, about all the good gained from giving up cigs.  I understand and believe that.  I do feel much better in the short time that I have not smoked.  No more coughing, can breathe better, and so much more energy.

[joyeuxencore]

Hi there! NRT is a choice and there are different schools of thought about them...some say it was a way for the tobacco companies to continue making money on the scores of people starting to quit smoking a while back. Also doctors will recommend it because of their never ending relentless love of treating symptoms instead of cause...I believe cold turkey is the best way...get rid of the poison...tough it out..HOWEVER that is now!!! When I quit last November I used the gum while driving back  forth to work for 6 days...Just enough to take the edge of the 'screaming mimis' but I did NOT like it...after the first week I had blogged enough to get all these other dstraction techniques and was able to  get through without it...MUCH BETTER! When you think about it...how is ingesting the addictive drug a solution to being free of the addiction??? While that is valid some folks have smoked SO much for SO long or feel so threatened about quitting that NRT as a tool is a PERFECT soution...you have to decide where YOU are in the mix...WHATEVER works is the best way for you! xo