How does Nicorette Coated Gum in Fresh Mint flavor with 4mg nicotine content perform. What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of using nicotine gum for focus and productivity. Is nicotine gum an effective alternative to caffeine for students and professionals.

Understanding Nicorette Coated Gum: Composition and Purpose

Nicorette Coated Gum is a smoking cessation aid designed to help individuals quit tobacco use. The product reviewed here is the Fresh Mint flavor, containing 4mg of nicotine per piece, available in a 100-count package. Nicotine gum works by delivering controlled doses of nicotine to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking.

Can nicotine gum be used for purposes other than smoking cessation? While primarily marketed as a quit-smoking aid, some individuals have explored its potential for enhancing focus and productivity. This review delves into one user’s experience with Nicorette gum for cognitive enhancement purposes.

The Quest for an Alternative Stimulant: From Caffeine to Nicotine

The reviewer, a college student majoring in Physics and Computer Science, sought an alternative to caffeine for improving focus and productivity. Their experience with caffeine included:

• Initial focus enhancement
• Subsequent energy crash and difficulty staying alert
• Need for repeated caffeine intake to maintain productivity

Without caffeine, the reviewer reported experiencing hyperactivity and lack of focus, leading to unproductive behaviors such as excessive video gaming or binge-watching streaming content. This prompted the exploration of nicotine gum as a potential solution.

Nicotine vs. Caffeine: Comparing Stimulant Effects

How do nicotine and caffeine differ in their stimulant effects? Both substances are classified as stimulants, but they interact with the body in distinct ways:

• Caffeine: Primarily works by blocking adenosine receptors, promoting wakefulness and alertness
• Nicotine: Activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, potentially enhancing focus and cognitive function

The reviewer found that nicotine provided a more sustained focus without the severe energy crashes associated with caffeine consumption. It’s important to note that individual responses to stimulants can vary, and neither substance should be used without considering potential health implications.

Nicotine Gum Usage: Building a Productive Ritual

The reviewer developed a structured routine incorporating nicotine gum to enhance study sessions:

1. Wake up and have breakfast (7-8 AM)
2. Watch TV for 30-60 minutes
3. Prepare study materials
4. Take a piece of nicotine gum
5. Say aloud “Study time!” as a verbal cue
6. Begin studying

This ritual combines physical activity (chewing), chemical stimulation (nicotine), and psychological conditioning (verbal cue) to create a focused study environment. The reviewer reports that this approach has significantly improved their ability to engage with academic material.

Adapting to Nicotine Gum: Dosage and Side Effects

How long does it take to adjust to nicotine gum? The reviewer’s experience suggests an adaptation period of about one week. Initially, they could only chew the gum for 15 minutes before feeling nauseous. After a week, they were able to use the gum for the full recommended 30 minutes.

Side effects reported by the reviewer include:

• Initial nausea (subsiding with continued use)
• Burning sensation in throat and mouth (described as unpleasant but tolerable)

It’s crucial to note that the reviewer started with the 4mg dosage, which they acknowledge may have been too strong for a nicotine-naive individual. They recommend that new users consider starting with the 2mg version to minimize initial discomfort.

Nicotine Gum as a “Brain Hack”: Potential Benefits and Risks

The reviewer positions nicotine gum as a potential “brain hack” for improving focus and motivation. Reported benefits include:

• Enhanced enjoyment of studying
• Improved ability to focus on tasks
• Reduced procrastination

However, it’s essential to consider the potential risks associated with nicotine use, even in gum form:

• Risk of dependence
• Cardiovascular effects
• Potential interactions with other medications

Are there long-term consequences of using nicotine gum for cognitive enhancement? While the reviewer reports positive short-term effects, the long-term impact of sustained nicotine use for non-smoking cessation purposes is not well-studied. Individuals considering this approach should consult with healthcare professionals to weigh potential benefits against risks.

Nicotine Misconceptions: Separating Fact from Fiction

The reviewer addresses a common misconception about nicotine and cancer risk. They correctly point out that nicotine itself is not a carcinogen. The cancer risk associated with tobacco use primarily comes from the numerous other chemicals present in cigarette smoke.

However, it’s important to clarify that while nicotine may not directly cause cancer, it is not without health risks. Nicotine can have significant effects on the cardiovascular system and may pose other health concerns, particularly with long-term use.

Key Facts About Nicotine:

• Highly addictive substance
• Can increase heart rate and blood pressure
• May affect brain development in adolescents
• Not recommended for use during pregnancy

Individuals considering nicotine gum use should be fully informed about both the potential benefits and risks associated with nicotine consumption.

The Risk of Nicotine Gum Dependence: A Cautionary Tale

While the reviewer’s experience with nicotine gum appears positive, it’s crucial to address the potential for dependence. The movie reference to Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in “Bounce” highlights a real concern: some individuals may find themselves addicted to nicotine gum after using it to quit smoking.

Statistics indicate that 1.5-2 million Americans try nicotine gum each year. While many successfully use it as a short-term aid to quit smoking, others may develop a new nicotine habit through gum use.

Factors Contributing to Nicotine Gum Dependence:

• Continued exposure to nicotine
• Psychological association of gum use with stress relief or focus
• Oral fixation satisfaction
• Misuse of the product beyond recommended duration

GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Nicorette, advises users to stop using the gum at the end of the recommended treatment period. However, some individuals may find it challenging to discontinue use, especially if they’ve come to rely on it for cognitive enhancement or stress management.

Alternatives to Nicotine Gum for Cognitive Enhancement

Given the potential risks associated with nicotine use, it’s worth exploring alternative methods for improving focus and productivity. Some options to consider include:

1. Mindfulness meditation
2. Regular exercise
3. Proper sleep hygiene
4. Balanced nutrition
5. Time management techniques
6. Cognitive behavioral therapy

These approaches can provide sustainable improvements in focus and productivity without the risks associated with stimulant use. Additionally, they often offer broader health benefits beyond cognitive enhancement.

Natural Supplements for Cognitive Function:

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• B-complex vitamins
• Ginkgo biloba
• Bacopa monnieri

While these supplements may offer cognitive benefits, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplementation regimen.

The Ethics of Cognitive Enhancement: A Broader Perspective

The use of substances like nicotine gum for cognitive enhancement raises ethical questions about fairness and authenticity in academic and professional settings. Is it appropriate to use pharmacological aids to boost performance? This debate extends beyond nicotine to include other cognitive enhancers such as modafinil and methylphenidate.

Key Ethical Considerations:

• Fairness in competitive environments
• Potential pressure to use enhancers to “keep up”
• Long-term health implications
• Authenticity of achievements

As society continues to grapple with these issues, it’s crucial for individuals to consider not only the potential benefits of cognitive enhancement but also the broader implications of such practices.

Conclusion: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Nicotine Gum Use

The reviewer’s experience with Nicorette Coated Gum highlights both the potential benefits and risks associated with using nicotine as a cognitive enhancer. While they report improved focus and productivity, it’s essential to approach such use with caution.

Key takeaways from this review include:

• Nicotine gum may offer cognitive benefits for some users
• Starting with a lower dose (2mg) is advisable for new users
• Side effects and adaptation period should be expected
• Risk of dependence is a significant concern
• Alternative methods for improving focus should be considered

Ultimately, the decision to use nicotine gum for non-smoking cessation purposes is a personal one that should be made in consultation with healthcare professionals. While some may find it beneficial, others may be better served by exploring alternative strategies for enhancing cognitive function and productivity.

As research in this area continues to evolve, it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest findings regarding the long-term effects of nicotine use for cognitive enhancement. By carefully weighing the potential benefits against the risks, individuals can make informed decisions about their health and productivity strategies.

Nicorette Coated Gum, Fresh Mint, 4mg, 100-Count

I have to say that I am loving this Nicorette gum.

First a bit about why I purchased the product:

I usually drink caffeine to pick me up in the morning but notice that the effects of caffeine (a stimulant such as nicotine) on my body have more of a numbing effect than that of a stimulant effect. I do notice considerable focus when drinking coffee but the drag of the effects when they wear off are so horrible that it’s a mammoth of a task keeping my eyes open the rest of the day and end up slouching unless I get another kick start cup of joe.
However, if I do not drink coffee I am hyper-active the entire day and also less focused on tasks such as studying. Instead I spend my time playing videogames all day or watching netflix or crunchyroll. I am a college student majoring in Physics and Computer Science.

This is when I decided that I needed a different substance to keep me focused.
(I know this mentality is horrible and needs adjustment but I was never raised to be productive and have always seemed to intuitively know how to coast through life. This does not work well when you want to be a quantum physicist however).

I decided I would pick out the nicorette gum since nicotine (although many think nicotine is a source of carcinogenic behavior in the body, this is false and it is actually cigarettes that cause cancer) is also a part of the stimulant family. My first gum I couldn’t even chew the entire thing as I felt nauseated halfway (15 minutes) into chewing. I have now (1 week in) been able to chew for the full 30 minutes as instructed to get the full 4mg of nicotine and I can say that the dopamine effect of nicotine is very very pleasant. It actually makes me enjoy studying. Here is a bit of my ritual as a sort of Pavlov-esk conditioning effect I have induced on my brain:

When I wake up (7-8AM) I have breakfast and go upstairs to watch some TV. After TV for 30min-1 hour I decide to start studying. I open my textbooks and prepare myself to study. This is when I take a piece of the gum and decide the pop it into my mouth. I say (aloud), “Study time!”, and immediately get to studying. The chewing (physical activity) keeps my body moving since I am a fidgety person and the nicotine (stimulant and brain activator for the reward center of the brain) is a c-c-c-combo breaker move to completely ease my mind and body into study mode. The added “Study time!” phrase is an audible keyword my brain has associated with the act of getting down a gritty with my textbooks and notepaper or laptop. All of this together is a reward based activity for something that I used to associate as pain and agony as I could be doing something “better” (in the short term my brain supposes) with my time. I would recommend this to anybody wanting to get a “brain hack” drug since it seems to be doing the trick for me and my studies, or as a substance to get on task for those who are less motivated/intrinsically inclined to postponing obligations (my procrastinators can all sit down now, oh wait, you already are).

Recommendations:
I would recommend that people who are not used to nicotine get the 2mg version first as the 4mg version is a little much and I think I went overboard (as I usually do). The nicotine will burn your throat and mouth (not literally duh) to the point of volcanic eruption (seriously though). While the feeling may be unpleasant, it is one of those pains that reduces with time as you get used to it, and I have personally associated the slight burning sensation as a sense of the nicotine seeping into my body.

Since the nicotine elimination half-life is about 2 hours, I would chew a piece every 3-5 hours (I chew one every 4 hours of study).
Unless you are an adventurer like me, get the 2mg version, or the 4mg version for the hardy folks.

Best of wishes,
Future quantum physicist.

Addicted to Nicorette

In the 2000 movie Bounce, Gwyneth Paltrow’s character, Abby, explains that she really isn’t a smoker at heart, but has started puffing on cigarettes to help her get off the nicotine gum to which she’s become addicted. The line invariably gets a laugh. But for people who feel that they really have become hooked on nicotine gum, Abby’s quirky observation may hit too close to home.

In fact, 1.5-2 million Americans try the nicotine-laced gum each year (it was originally introduced in the U.S. in 1984). And while many, thanks to the gum, have successfully kicked the tobacco habit, some seem to have weaned themselves from one nicotine habit only to pick up a new (albeit less risky) one.

Most users of nicotine gum — now sold over-the-counter under the Nicorette brand as well as several generic names — see it as a short-term measure. GlaxoSmithKline, marketers of Nicorette, advises people to “stop using the nicotine gum at the end of 12 weeks,” and to talk to a doctor if you “still feel the need” to use it. But that guideline hasn’t kept some people from chomping on it for many months and even years. In an addiction forum on the Internet, one gum user posted a familiar message describing her 10-year-long habit of chewing between 9 and 11 pieces of Nicorette per day, and asking for “any suggestions as to how to get off the gum.”

Long-Term Risks?

In a recent report evaluating data collected by ACNielsen, researchers concluded that 5-9%of nicotine gum users relied on it for longer than the recommended three months. About half that many were chewers for six or more months.

Nevertheless, if there are serious health risks from this kind of chronic gum chomping, they haven’t been identified yet. “I’ve encountered people using the gum for 15 years,” says John Hughes, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont in Burlington, and spokesperson for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. “And their main complaint is the cost of the gum.” The price tag for using Nicorette gum is about the same as a pack-and-a-half-a-day smoking habit.

In some published studies, people have used nicotine gum up to five years, according to Richard Hurt, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Nicotine Dependence Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “As far as we now know,” he says, “there are no heart or vascular problems associated with long-term use.”

Cigarette smoking itself, of course, can cause serious, life-threatening health problems. But the nicotine in the gum is delivered slowly through the mucous membranes in the mouth, and at much lower levels than the quick-hit surge of nicotine that occurs when puffing on cigarettes. At the same time, the gum does not contain any of the cancer-causing substances present in cigarettes.

“The major harm from smoking is not caused by the nicotine,” says Hughes. “The cancer and heart disease associated with smoking come from the carcinogens and the carbon monoxide in cigarettes.”

In fact, if you’ve been a chronic nicotine-gum user, you may have experienced the most frequent health problem that it causes — jaw pain produced by constant chewing, week after week, month after month. As for other health concerns, a caveat is usually given to pregnant and breastfeeding women, advising them to use the nicotine replacement product only on the advice of a healthcare provider.

“In the third trimester of pregnancy, there are no adverse effects to either the mother or the fetus with the use of nicotine replacement,” says Hurt. But, he adds, no studies have been done on the effects of the product early in pregnancy.

Isn’t the Gum Addicting?

If you’ve ever felt as though you were becoming hooked on nicotine gum, you might not have been imagining it. Even though the nicotine levels in the stop-smoking product is lower than in cigarettes, there could be an addictive component to its use in some individuals.

“In the Lung Health Study of about 3,100 users of nicotine gum, some of whom used it for five years, all had been daily cigarette smokers when they entered the study,” says Robert Murray, PhD, professor and director of the Alcohol and Tobacco Research Unit at the University of Manitoba, Canada. “So through cigarette use, these people had established a physical addiction to nicotine, and the gum may have perpetuated that addiction.”

Some people experience withdrawal symptoms when they toss out their nicotine gum, according to Murray. These withdrawal effects can include headaches, as well as irritability, depression, and difficulty concentrating.

Nevertheless, a recent study by Hughes concluded that only a small number of long-term gum users truly meet the definition of addiction or dependence, which includes an inability to control their use of the gum. Many more could stop, he says, but are choosing to use the gum for months or years because of their fear of slipping back into cigarette use.

“Most people say that quitting smoking is the hardest thing they’ve ever done,” says Hughes. “With the help of the gum, they’ve finally been able to quit, and they’re scared to stop using it. Some say to me, ‘If there’s even a 10% chance that I’m going to return to smoking without the gum, I’m going to keep using it.’

“If the gum were something we knew to be harmful, I’d get upset about its chronic use, and insist that they get off it,” adds Hughes. “But it doesn’t seem to be harmful.”

If the choice were between smoking and using a pure nicotine product like the gum, “it’s really a no-brainer,” says Hurt. “We still want to get people off the gum. But it may take some of them a lot longer than others.”

Nicotine Gum – Does it Really Work and is it Safe?

Chewing gum is a fun pastime and distraction for many people, so researchers got the idea that it could work as a replacement for smoking. Many people chew gum when they are trying to quit smoking because it provides oral gratification similar to a smoking habit. In the 1980s, gum that contains nicotine was introduced and offered by prescription as a method to help people quit smoking.

Nicotine gum is a form of smoking cessation aid, which means it is intended to help people stop smoking. It generally works by replacing the nicotine that smokers usually get through tobacco products. Users normally gradually reduce their nicotine dosage until they no longer have cravings for it, or at least until the most bothersome nicotine withdrawal symptoms subside or lessen in severity.

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The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can be quite uncomfortable which is why a Nicotine Replacement Therapy like chewing gum is recommended.

Symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• weight gain

Nicotine gum is a very hard gum that is packaged in individual foil packed containers. The gum contains either 2 or 4 mg of nicotine in each piece, which is approximately equal to the amount of nicotine in 1 to 2 cigarettes. Smokers who need to have their first cigarette within the first 30 minutes after waking up should start with the 4 mg dose of nicotine gum, while those who can wait 30 minutes or more after waking for a first cigarette can usually get by with the 2 mg dose.

The gum is chewed at least 15 minutes after eating or drinking. You chew the gum until it softens up and begins to get a peppery taste and tingling sensation. At that point, you are supposed to put the piece between your gums and cheek and leave it in place. When the gum starts to lose the tingling sensation, you can chew it again until that feeling comes back. You can repeat this cycle as many times as necessary for up to 30 minutes. The body can absorb the nicotine into the bloodstream after being held in place next to the cheek. Slightly less than the full amount of nicotine in each piece of gum is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Smokers can use nicotine gum as much as once an hour, up to a total of 24 pieces per day. In general, you should step down the dosage of nicotine gum by spacing out the intervals between pieces by an increasing number of hours over a period of several weeks. Nicotine gum is not considered safe for more than 12 weeks of use or by pregnant women.

Nicotine exposure of the levels seen in nicotine chewing gum can cause some serious problems for the unborn child that can follow him throughout his life.

Nicotine gum was initially introduced to the market as a prescription medication called Nicorette. This was the first pharmaceutical option to help with quitting smoking, and its development started as early as the late 1960s. The product was then available in some countries in 1978 and the U. S. shortly after. It was available by prescription only for many years, including in an eventual generic version, but then it was made available over the counter without a prescription.

Other nicotine replacement products that were similarly once available only by prescription but which are now available over the counter include nicotine lozenges (available in generic and under the brand name Commit) and nicotine inhalers.

Industry-funded studies showed that the use of nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gum could reduce the cravings for a cigarette for up to 24 hours, although some other independent studies showed that people needed additional support systems in addition to using nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking successfully.

Nicotine Gum: Side Effects

Nicotine gum may be fun to chew, but it is still a medication that was once available only by prescription. As such, it can have many potential side effects. Fortunately, although you cannot eliminate the possibility of side effects, they can be minimized by careful use of the medication. Chewing nicotine gum too fast or “chain chewing” – having one piece immediately after another – can dramatically increase the risk of side effects. However, by avoiding these actions, you may not experience as many side effects.

Some of the most common side effects associated with nicotine gum include the following:

• Mouth, jaw or tooth discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Rapid or pounding heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Rash
• Blisters or sores in the mouth

The success rates for using nicotine gum is dependent on the study, which are mixed. However, according to The Chart, “The perception of the public using the product is that these are good forever – that these will result in you not smoking in three, five, 10 years. Well, they were never designed to do that. They were designed to treat withdrawal, which is a symptom that occurs from stopping to probably six months, and then it usually ends. ”

The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal pose the greatest risk to success during the early stages of quitting smoking. Avoid drinking coffee, soda, beer or other acidic beverages while using the nicotine gum as it interferes with the absorption of the nicotine.

Because nicotine gum and other nicotine replacement products are medications, they can have serious effects. The most serious risk from using nicotine replacement products is an accidental overdose or nicotine poisoning. When this happens, it most often does so because people are doubling up and using nicotine replacement medication while also continuing to smoke. Nicotine replacement products are intended only to be used alone and to provide a substitute for the addiction to nicotine. Symptoms of nicotine overdose or poisoning include respiratory distress, seizures, and even death. Children are also at risk of nicotine poisoning if they find nicotine gum, particularly because of its similarity to other non-toxic forms of gum.

Even normal use of nicotine gum per the package directions can cause some health risks. Long-term use of nicotine gum can cause muscle weakness in the throat and lead to chronic hiccups, a feeling like your throat is closing and irritation. Nicotine in any form can also lead to a greater risk of heart disease and may contribute to throat, mouth and esophageal cancers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stroke.

Women who are pregnant should not use nicotine gum because it may cause an increased risk of congenital disabilities, particularly if you were to use it within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women should ask their doctors about safer methods to help quit smoking.

Nicotine gum can be an effective tool in your total arsenal of options to help you quit smoking. However, it is very important to follow the instructions about how to use these powerful medications properly to make sure you use it safely and appropriately.

Nicotine gum seems great at first, you can get the nicotine without the terrible things involved with cigarettes. However, then your gums start to recede, your breath smells bad all the time, and you have very strange digestive issues. It is certainly a possibility if you plan to do the actual weaning off program, but if you just switch addictions than it could cause health problems in the future.

Nicotine chewing gum shouldn’t be used longer than 12 weeks or so, which can be difficult for some as they may become addicted to the gum. Some alternatives that we would certainly recommend are the Nicotine Patch and vapor cigarettes. These are the nicotine replacement therapy products with the least risk and the highest success rate. Good luck!

Vapes more effective to quit smoking than gum or patch, review finds

LONDON (Reuters) – Vapes containing nicotine are more effective in helping people quit smoking than patches or gum, and safer than cigarettes, although more evidence is needed on their potential long-term impacts, a new review of evidence found on Wednesday.

The findings, from a review which included evidence from 50 studies around the world, suggests vaping could boost the number of people who stop smoking.

“There is now evidence that electronic cigarettes with nicotine are likely to increase the chances of quitting successfully compared to nicotine gum or patches,” said Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, an expert at the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group who co-led the review.

The review was conducted by Cochrane, an organisation that pools the best scientific research to help assess the relative effectiveness of health interventions.

E-cigarettes have been around for about a decade, and increased in popularity significantly in recent years. Unlike gum and patches, they mimic cigarette smoking because they are hand-held and generate a vapour.

The World Health Organization says tobacco kills up to half of all its users, clocking up a death toll of more than 8 million people a year.

A 2016 Cochrane Review also found e-cigarettes were more likely to help smokers quit than nicotine patches or gum, but the available body of evidence at that time was slimmer.

A spate of vaping-related lung injuries and deaths in the United States last year threw a spotlight on vaping and e-cigarettes, and prompted bans on some types of the products.

But the outbreak was not linked to vapes that contain nicotine, and appeared to be waning late last year as evidence grew that vitamin E acetate, a cutting agent used in marijuana vapes, could be behind the cases.

The Cochrane team said they found no clear evidence in this review of serious harms from nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, though they noted that the evidence is uncertain due to the still relatively small number of studies.

“Scientific consensus holds that electronic cigarettes are considerably less harmful than traditional cigarettes, but are not risk-free,” Hartmann-Boyce said.

John Britton, a respiratory medicine professor at Nottingham University, said the review was “comprehensive” and gave “definitive confirmation that electronic cigarettes offer smokers an effective means of quitting”.

Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Peter Graff

With cinnamon, fruit and mint-flavored nicotine gum, is LA’s Lucy Goods the next Juul? – TechCrunch

David Renteln, the Los Angeles-based co-founder of Soylent and the co-founder and chief executive of new nicotine gum manufacturer Lucy Goods, thinks there should be a better-tasting, less-medicinal offering for people looking to quit smoking.

That’s why he founded Lucy Goods, and that’s why investors, including RRE Ventures, Vice Ventures and FundRX joined previous investors YCombinator and Greycroft in backing the company with $10 million in new funding.

“We reformulated nicotine gum and the improvements that we made were to the taste, the texture and the nicotine release speed,” said Renteln.

These days, any startup that’s working on smoking cessation or working with tobacco products can’t avoid comparisons to Juul — the multi-billion-dollar startup that’s at the center of the surge in teen nicotine consumption.

“The Juul comparison is something that’s obviously top of people’s minds,” Renteln said. “It’s important to note that there’s a huge difference in nicotine products.”

Renteln points to statements from former Food and Drug Administration chief, Scott Gottlieb (who’s now a partner at the venture firm New Enterprise Associates), which drew a distinction between combustible tobacco products on one end and nicotine gums and patches on the other.

“Nicotine isn’t the principle agent of harm associated with these tobacco products,” said Rentlen. “It’s addictive but not inherently bad for you.”

Lucy Goods also doesn’t release its nicotine dosage in a concentrated burst like vapes, which are designed to replicate the head rush associated with smoking a cigarette, said Renteln.

“It is a stimulant and they will get a sensation, but it’s not as intense as taking a very deep drag of a cigarette,” Renteln said. 

The company’s website also doesn’t skew to young, lifestyle marketing images. Instead, there are testimonials from older, ex-smokers hawking the Lucy gum.

“I don’t want anyone underage using any nicotine product or any drug in general… [and] the flavors have been around for a long time.”

Joining Renteln in the quest to create a better nicotine gum is Samy Hamdouche, a former business development executive at several Southern California biotech startups and the previous vice president of research at Soylent.  

For both men, the idea is to get a new product to market that can help people quit smoking — without a social stigma — Renteln said.

“Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States claiming over 480,000 lives every year and costing the U.S. an estimated $300 billion in direct health costs and lost productivity. Lucy is committed to bringing innovative nicotine products to the market to eliminate tobacco related harm and we’re proud to be part of their journey,” said RRE investor, Jason Black in a statement.

Best Nicotine Gum: The Top Quit Smoking Product

With the advent of health and wellness trends, more people have become interested in eliminating their unhealthy habits. Smoking is one of the most common unhealthy habits in existence and it can be extremely hard to quit. Fortunately, there are several means to do this – one of which is by chewing nicotine gum.

A lot of people turn to nicotine gum when they want to quit smoking. This is a very effective method as it provides the same type of oral gratification as smoking. Back in the 1980s, nicotine gum came out as a way to help kick this unhealthy habit. Read on to learn more along with some of the best nicotine gum options on the market now. 

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What is Nicotine Gum?

Nicotine gum is a type of medicated chewing gum that you can purchase over-the-counter even without a prescription. This type of gum delivers an oral dose of nicotine to replace the nicotine smokers get from cigarettes. This makes it an effective replacement for those who smoke or use other tobacco products.

While various nicotine gum products contain the same chemical that’s responsible for the addictive nature of cigarettes and tobacco, it doesn’t contain all the other harmful substances. Also, most of these products are completely sugar-free making them a healthy option.

Nicotine gum is a scientifically tested product. According to research, this can be just as effective as any other aid for quitting the unhealthy habit. But it’s important to note that people have complex and varied reasons for starting to smoke and maintaining this habit. Getting addicted to nicotine is only one aspect of this.

Because of this, experts advise people to use nicotine gum in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy. Such therapy targets the psychological factors that cause you to smoke. There are different types of therapies depending on the underlying reason for smoking, the severity of the smoking habit, and more.

Read more —

Why Am I So Tired After Quitting Smoking?

How Does Nicotine Gum Work?

Just like any other nicotine replacement alternatives, nicotine the main purpose of nicotine gum is to reduce nicotine cravings and other common symptoms of withdrawal. Many people who have either tried to quit smoking whether with or without succeeding would know about such products. Among the different kinds of nicotine replacement alternatives, nicotine gum is the most popular.

As aforementioned, nicotine gum is a type of chewing gum that provides the body with nicotine. Most of these products contain nicotine as an active ingredient along with other ingredients of normal chewing gum. As the user chews the gum, it releases nicotine which, in turn, gets absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

Then the nicotine that’s absorbed gets released into the bloodstream where it starts doing its work. Chewing nicotine gum can help reduce anxiety, irritability, and most of all, nicotine cravings felt by the body. Of course, these symptoms won’t stop immediately. It would take some time for the gum to provide the intended effect on the body.

Pros and Cons of Nicotine Gum

Once you decide to start chewing nicotine gum, you should stop smoking too. Otherwise, you might end up with a nicotine overdose. Before starting to use this medicated gum, speak with your doctor. This is especially important if you suffer from ulcers, high blood pressure, heart problems or an overactive thyroid.

Consulting with a doctor is also recommended if you have dentures or have had any other types of dental work done in the past. Nicotine gum offers valuable help if you decide to kick the smoking habits. Each product comes with its own instructions for use that you should follow carefully.

As long as you use nicotine gum as directed, this will improve your chances of quitting. But as with any other product, nicotine gum comes with its own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at them now:

Pros

One of the main reasons why nicotine gum is the most popular nicotine replacement alternative is that it does offer a number of benefits that other products don’t have. Here are the pros of nicotine gum:

• Nicotine gum helps reduce the common symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal like cravings, irritability, headaches, and more.
• With nicotine gum, you are in control of the dosage. As long as you consider the recommended dosage, using this product may yield a lot of positive results. For instance, if you’re having a particularly bad craving, you can pop a piece of gum in your mouth to deal with it. Keep observing your body to notice any changes too.
• While chewing nicotine gum, it’s easier for the body to absorb the nicotine content compared to when you use a nicotine patch, thus, providing you with faster relief. You can also combine nicotine gum with nicotine patches to enhance the effects. Just check with your doctor first.
• Nicotine gum comes in different strengths. You can choose the product depending on how many cigarettes or tobacco products you’re used to.

Cons

As with any other product, nicotine gum also comes with a number of cons. It’s important to know about these drawbacks too so that you can make an informed decision on whether this type of nicotine replacement is the best choice for you or not. Here are the cons:

• If you don’t use the gum correctly or if you swallow it by accident, you may experience a number of adverse side effects.
• As with smoking, chewing nicotine gum frequently can cause you to get addicted to it. According to studies, up to 20% of smokers who start using nicotine gum to quit only find success after using it for at least a year. However, most doctors recommend that you limit the use of nicotine gum to only six months in order to avoid addiction. Of course, continuing with the gum is still a safer option compared to smoking.
• It’s not suitable for pregnant women to use nicotine gum as this may cause harm to the fetus. For those suffering from other medical conditions, it’s recommended to check with the doctor first to ensure safety. 

Quitting Smoking With Nicotine Gum

Via https://vapingdaily.com/

Nicotine gum is a type of therapeutic nicotine designed to help smokers reduce their dependence on cigarettes gradually. This type of gum proves to be very effective as it provides the nicotine needed by the body sans the other harmful chemicals contained in tobacco products.

Nicotine gum is an OTC medication you can use as needed. This means that if you feel like you don’t need a nicotine fix, you don’t have to chew a piece of gum. While you don’t need a prescription to purchase nicotine gum, remember that this is still a type of medication.

Therefore, you must use it as directed on the product’s packaging.

Best Nicotine Gums Money Can Buy: My Top 5 Favorites

#1. Habitrol Nicotine Gum 2mg Fruit BULK 384 pieces

Habitrol Nicotine Gum 2mg has a minty flavor and it serves as an aid for smoking cessation. By chewing this gum, you can also reduce your withdrawal symptoms and cigarette cravings. Use this gum as part of your efforts to stop smoking, especially when you can’t quit “cold turkey.”

This nicotine gum is also suitable for smokers who aren’t ready to completely quit but need a temporary replacement for nicotine. This gum works by releasing nicotine through the lining of the mouth. Habitrol Nicotine Gum 2mg mimics the effects of cigarettes sans the harmful chemicals. It’s also available in 4mg.

Pros

• It’s sugar-free and provides an intense minty flavor.
• It helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
• It has a special coating for the flavor to last longer.

Cons

• Some have not liked the flavor as real good.

#2. Kirkland Signature Quit Smoking Nicotine Gum, 4 mg (380 Pieces)

The first time you try Kirkland Signature Quit Smoking Nicotine Gum, the pleasant taste may surprise you. The flavor is fruity and light and you can easily tell how much nicotine you get because the color changes from yellow to white as you chew. This makes it easier to chew giving you a more pleasant overall experience.

This gum is also more affordable than other options on the market, one feature that a lot of consumers appreciate. Each piece of gum even comes out easily from the packaging. Since Kirkland Signature Quit Smoking Nicotine Gum is a 4mg product, it’s suitable for those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day or those who need their first cigarette within half-an-hour after waking up.

Pros

• The 4mg gum contains nicorette active ingredient.
• It has a pleasant taste making it easier to chew and keep in your mouth.
• It’s one of the more affordable nicotine gum options on the market.

Cons

• With heavy use, it tends to stain the teeth yellow.

#3. Basic Care Nicotine Polacrilex Gum, 2 mg (nicotine)

Basic Care Nicotine Gum is an excellent choice for those undergoing nicotine replacement therapy. Chewing this gum makes it easier for you to wean off cigarettes when you’re trying to quit smoking. It helps control, regulate, and reduce the nicotine cravings of the body. While this product is a 2mg gum, it’s also available in 4mg for those who need a more potent option.

As with other 2mg products, this Basic Care Nicotine Gum variation is ideal for those who need to smoke their first cigarette of the day more than half an hour after waking up. It also aids in the reduction of other withdrawal symptoms making it easier to quit smoking.

Pros

• It’s affordable but it works just as well as more expensive products.
• It comes in an original flavor that is neither too mild nor too intense.
• It helps reduce the body’s nicotine cravings along with other symptoms of withdrawal.

Cons

• The flavor tends to fade away too soon.

#4. Nicorette 4mg Nicotine Gum to Quit Smoking

This Nicorette Nicotine Gum to Quit Smoking is specially formulated to help you quit smoking. It contains nicotine as an active ingredient and it features patented dual-coated technology. This 4mg product is perfect from those who smoke a lot but it also comes in a lower dose of 2mg.

Nicorette Nicotine Gum to Quit Smoking comes in a cinnamon flavor providing you with a bold taste and a unique experience. Chewing this gum helps relieve anxiety, restlessness, frustration, irritability, and cravings that are commonly associated with trying to kick smoking habits.

Just make sure to complete the whole program to ensure the best results.

Pros

• Provides powerful relief for even the most intense cravings.
• Offers a great taste with its cinnamon flavor and patented dual-coated technology.
• Helps relieve other symptoms of withdrawal associated with trying to quit smoking.

Cons

• Some users claim that it causes a sensation in the throat.

#5. GoodSense Mini Nicotine Polacrilex Lozenge 4mg

Good Sense Nicotine Polacrilex Lozenge works by releasing specific amounts of nicotine in a controlled, less intense, and slower pace compared to cigarettes. Because of this, you can concentrate more on changing your addictive behaviors rather than trying to satisfy your cravings all the time. Because of how it works, this 4mg lozenge doubles your chances of kicking the habit.

This product is also available in 2mg for those who need a ligher nicotine fix. The Good Sense Nicotine Polacrilex Lozenge is an excellent addition to any nicotine replacement therapy. Using a minimum of 9 lozenges each day for a period of 6 weeks can help increase the chances of success.

Pros

• Works differently compared to cigarettes to help strengthen your willpower to quit smoking.
• It helps reduce the symptoms of withdrawal commonly associated with trying to quit smoking.
• Comes in 2mg and 4mg dosages depending on the smoker’s need.

Cons

• Some say that it’s too sweet.

Read more —

A Perfect Way to Quit Smoking – Does Nicotine Gum Work for Real?

How to Use Nicotine Gum?

Via https://www.quitgenius.com/

Before you start using nicotine gum, consult with your doctor. You can also consult with a pharmacist when purchasing nicotine gum to make sure that the product you plan to purchase suits your own needs. Also, make sure that you don’t suffer from any health conditions that might worsen because of this gum.

If you’re taking any medications, check with your doctor too as the nicotine might cause harmful interactions. Once you have checked with the right people and made the choice to start a nicotine gum regimen, follow these steps:

• Choose a date when you plan to quit smoking (or at least try) and this will be the same date when you start using nicotine gum.
• Choose a nicotine gum brand. Use the review of the best nicotine gum brands in the previous section of this article.
• While each individual product has its own directions for use, there are general guidelines for using nicotine gum. Chew a piece of gum every 1 to 2 hours each day for 6 weeks. This allows you to use a minimum of 9 pieces of gum a day.
• While you chew nicotine gum, don’t consume anything at least 15 minutes before. Also, don’t consume anything while chewing the gum.
• To increase your chances of kicking the smoking habit, complete the whole 12-week program of using nicotine gum.

FAQs About Using Nicotine Gum to Quit Smoking

Should you use 2mg or 4mg nicotine gum?

Most nicotine gum products come in 2 strengths – 2mg and 4mg. The specific dose to take depends mainly on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. 

Generally, if you smoke less than 20 cigarettes each day, you may opt for the 2mg nicotine gums. 

But if you smoke more than that, you would be better off with the 4mg dose.

How many cigarettes equals 2mg of nicotine gum?

Nicotine gum containing 2mg of nicotine has approximately the same amount of nicotine as 1 cigarette. 

You can use this dose if you can wait for more than half an hour after waking up in the morning before you have your first cigarette of the day.

How many cigarettes equals 4mg of nicotine gum?

Nicotine gum containing 4mg of nicotine has approximately the same amount of nicotine as 2 cigarettes. 

You can use this dose if you can’t wait for more than half an hour after waking up in the morning before you have your first cigarette of the day.

How long should you chew nicotine gum?

If you have come up with a schedule for chewing your nicotine gum, make sure that you haven’t consumed anything at least 15 minutes before popping one in your mouth. As with regular chewing gum, you would chew nicotine gum the same way.

But to ensure complete and steady nicotine release, there is a special technique for you to follow.

As you chew nicotine gum, you may notice a tingling sensation in your mouth. Chew the gum for a while then “park” it inside your mouth between your teeth and inner cheeks. Then chew some more and repeat this cycle until the tingling sensation fades away. This means that the gum has already released all of its nicotine content.

This chew and park method can take up to half an hour. Just make sure that you don’t swallow the gum.

Also, don’t chew more than a single piece of gum each time. As you progress with your nicotine gum regimen, if you notice a reduction in your cravings, you may reduce the frequency of your gum-chewing too.

Nicotine Gum Side Effects

While you may enjoy chewing nicotine gum, don’t forget that it’s still a form of medication. Because of this, it comes with a number of potential side effects. Although it isn’t possible to eliminate these side effects completely, you can minimize the risk of experiencing them by using the gum correctly and carefully.

For one, try not to chew the gum too fast. Also, try not to chew nicotine gum one piece after another. These can help reduce the possibility of experiencing side effects. Still, you should know about the potential side effects so you know what to expect while using nicotine gum.

Some of the most common side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sores or blisters in the mouth
• Jaw, tooth or mouth discomfort
• Breathing difficulties
• Pounding or rapid heartbeat
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Rash

These side effects might throw you off and cause you to stop taking nicotine gum. If you experience any of these, consult with your doctor.

Usually, the side effects may go away after your body adjusts to the gum. But it’s best to consult with your doctor to ensure your safety. Your doctor might even recommend that you change products.

Bottom Line

Nicotine gum is a great replacement for cigarettes as it doesn’t contain other harsh chemicals that may cause harm to your body. However, using it for extended periods of time outside of the recommended time frame may cause a number of adverse side effects too. But used correctly and only as needed, nicotine gum can be a great help.

Throughout this article, you have learned a lot of valuable information about nicotine gum. We have also provided you with some of the best nicotine gum products available on the market now.

With all this information, you can make a smarter choice to find the best product to suit your needs and help you quit smoking.

Trying to quit smoking? Use more nicotine, not less, says study | The Independent

When delivered through cigarettes, nicotine is considered to be one of the most addictive substances on earth, so it may seem odd to suggest that people should use more, rather than less, to quit smoking. A recent review of the research, however, has found just that.

Nicotine replacement therapy, known as NRT, has been used to help people safely quit smoking for more than 20 years. It can be prescribed by a doctor but, in many countries, is also available to buy from grocery stores and pharmacies.

A review by the medical research charity Cochrane looked at the best ways to use NRT to quit smoking – and found three ways in which using more nicotine might help:

* Use two forms of NRT rather than one. NRT is available in a range of forms: skin patches, chewing gum, nasal and oral sprays, inhalators, and lozenges. There is high quality evidence that sticking on a patch while also using another form of NRT, such as gum, increases your chances of quitting.

* Start to use NRT before stopping smoking. Usually people start using NRT on the day they quit. But starting to use NRT a few weeks before, while they’re still smoking, may help more people to quit successfully.

* Higher doses of NRT may help some people. Some NRT releases higher levels of nicotine than others. In the studies reviewed, people were more likely to quit if they used 4mg compared to 2mg nicotine gum. The higher dose may be particularly helpful for people who smoke more cigarettes – for example, more than 20 a day. Evidence also suggests that using 21mg or 25mg patches might increase the chance of quitting compared with using 14mg or 15mg patches.

Smoking ads throughout the years

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1/18Smoking ads throughout the years

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1929 advert for Chesterfield cigarettes that featured in Cosmopolitan magazine

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1900 advert for Ogden’s Guinea – Gold Cigarettes that featured in the Illustrated London News

Getty

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1918 advert for Strand cigarettes that featured in Bruno’s Bohemia

Anton Raath

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1939 newspaper advert for Piccadilly cigarettes

Wellcome Library

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1941 advert for Camel cigarettes featuring baseball player Joe DiMaggio

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1929 advert for Chesterfield cigarettes that featured in Cosmopolitan magazine in the US

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1952 advert for Craven ‘A’ cigarettes featuring England footballer Stanley Matthews

Science Museum

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1950 advert for Chesterfield cigarettes featuring baseball player Bub McMillan

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1930 advert for Old Gold cigarettes that featured in Motion Picture magazine in the US

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1931 advert for Lucky Strike cigarettes that featured in the Literary Digest

Rex

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1952 advert for Player’s Navy Cut cigarettes that featured in the Picture Post

Getty

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1952 advert for cigarettes with the Du Maurier filter that featured in the Picture Post

Getty

Smoking ads throughout the years

A 1974 Health Education Council poster warning against the danger of smoking whilst pregnant

Getty

Smoking ads throughout the years

One of four posters from a 1998 campaign warning teenagers that smoking causes damage to the heart and lungs from the first cigarette

PA

Smoking ads throughout the years

One of four posters from a 1998 campaign warning teenagers that smoking causes damage to the heart and lungs from the first cigarette

PA

Smoking ads throughout the years

One of four posters from a 1998 campaign warning teenagers that smoking causes damage to the heart and lungs from the first cigarette

PA

Smoking ads throughout the years

A poster from a 1999 campaign from the Health Education Authority urging women not to smoke whilst pregnant

PA

Smoking ads throughout the years

Steve Plumb, 40, from Peterborough, stands next to a 2003 poster issued by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) warning of the dangers that smoking cigarettes can have on the heart

PA

But why?

There are several good reasons why using nicotine in this way can be the solution rather than the problem.

First, it can make cigarettes less enjoyable. Smokers find smoking pleasurable because nicotine from cigarettes makes the brain release dopamine – a “happy” hormone. The brain gets used to this, so when a smoker hasn’t smoked for a while, they start to experience unpleasant symptoms, such as cravings, sleep problems and mood changes.

NRT provides the brain with an alternative source of nicotine, which eases these symptoms. When NRT is used before quitting, brain receptors are already filled with nicotine when a cigarette is smoked. Therefore, the smoker doesn’t get the usual burst of pleasure from smoking, helping to break the association between smoking and feeling good.

Second, NRT replaces a harmful way of delivering nicotine with a safe alternative. Some people may worry that taking more nicotine will cause side effects. Fortunately, NRT is considered safe, and this review didn’t find any evidence of overdosing on NRT if used as directed.

Smoking is dangerous because of the many harmful chemicals present in cigarette smoke, including arsenic and formaldehyde. None of these are present in NRT.

Finally, NRT is not as addictive as smoking. Some people are concerned about becoming addicted to NRT. But the way cigarettes deliver nicotine makes them far more addictive than NRT. Cigarettes deliver nicotine to the brain extremely quickly, and do so alongside other chemicals, which increase the force with which nicotine affects the brain. Because nicotine from NRT is delivered to the brain much more slowly, and without those extra chemicals, smokers do not experience the same quick hit of pleasure when they use NRT. This makes NRT less addictive.

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Quitting smoking is hard, but important – even people who’ve smoked for many years can improve their health by quitting. The problem with nicotine is that it gets people addicted to smoking, but cigarettes – not nicotine – are the killer.

In 1976, eminent professor Mike Russell wrote: “People smoke for nicotine but they die from the tar.” This is as true today as ever, and evidence shows that more nicotine can be part of the answer.

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce is a senior researcher in health behaviours, and ​Nicola Lindson is a postdoctoral research fellow, both at the University of Oxford. This article first appeared on The Conversation

Nicorette chewing gum from smoking Fresh mint 4 mg, 30pcs

Short description

Nicorette – a wide range of nicotine replacement therapy drugs to combat the urge to smoke. The safety and efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy as an approach to the treatment of tobacco dependence has been studied in 150 clinical studies and is recommended by the World Health Organization. Keeping the habit in check – clinically proven to help combat smoking cravings, including physical and psychological addiction to nicotine.Flexible Quit Scheme – Nicorette chewing gum helps to combat the urge to smoke both when quitting smoking completely and when reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. Calm and Self-Control – The chewy format helps control anxiety and irritability. Fight cravings on the go – Nicorette’s chewing gum can help you fight cravings and take your mind off smoking wherever you like. Helps reduce the urge to smoke and relieve the various manifestations of withdrawal symptoms: cravings, irritability, low mood, anxiety, poor concentration and increased appetite.Helps control weight gain – Nicorette chewing gum helps keep appetite in check while quitting smoking. Plus, all Nicorette gum is sugar-free. A fresh way to quit smoking – Nicorette’s anti-smoking gum tastes like fresh mint. How does Nicorette work? Nicorette chewing gum is specially formulated to allow your body to gradually adapt to quitting nicotine. The drug to combat the urge to smoke contains medicinal nicotine, which is released when chewing.At the same time, the nicotine level in chewing gum is much lower than that of cigarettes. The gradual reduction in the dosage of nicotine helps the body develop the habit of living without it, contributing to the treatment of tobacco dependence.

Indication

Treatment of tobacco dependence by reducing the need for nicotine in the following cases:
– reduction of withdrawal symptoms arising from complete cessation of smoking in patients who decided to quit smoking;
– with temporary cessation of smoking;
– a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked in those who cannot or do not want to completely quit smoking.

Way
application and dosage

Adults and adolescents over 18 years of age
The dose is selected individually depending on the intensity of smoking.
Usually:
– Nicorette’s chewing gum? Fresh mint 2 mg (moderate nicotine content) should be used if you smoke less than 20 cigarettes a day,
– Nicorette chewing gum? Fresh mint 4 mg (high nicotine) should be used if you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day or if you have been unable to quit smoking with 2 mg chewing gum.How to use Nicorette chewing gum? Fresh mint
Nicorette chewing gum? Fresh mint should be used whenever there is an overwhelming urge to smoke, according to the following scheme:
1. Chewing gum should be chewed for about 30 minutes, intermittently. Chew the gum slowly until it tastes strong.
2. Stop chewing and leave the gum between the inside of the cheek and the gum.
3. When the taste has disappeared, start chewing the gum again.If symptoms of an overdose appear (see the Overdose section), the drug should be discontinued immediately.
Quitting smoking completely
Chew only one gum at a time, stop smoking.
With a complete cessation of smoking, the number of chewing gums per day is determined by the degree of dependence on nicotine and is usually 8-12 pieces per day, but should not exceed 15 pieces per day. Chewing gum should be used in the indicated amount for up to 3 months, after which the daily number of gum should be gradually reduced until it is completely canceled.Chewing gum is discontinued when the daily dose is 1–2 pieces per day.
Regular use of chewing gum for more than 12 months is usually not recommended, however, some people require longer therapy to avoid resuming smoking.
Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked
Chewing gum should be used as needed between smoking episodes in order to increase the time between smoking and to reduce smoking as much as possible. If within 6 weeks it was not possible to achieve a decrease in the daily consumption of cigarettes, you should seek the help of a specialist.An attempt to completely give up cigarettes should be made as soon as you feel that you are ready for it, but no later than 6 months after the start of therapy. If you have not been able to make a serious attempt to quit smoking within 9 months after starting therapy, you should consult a specialist.
After smoking cessation, the recommendations of therapy, gradual dose reduction and drug withdrawal, indicated above, should be followed with a complete cessation of smoking.
Regular use of chewing gum for more than 12 months is usually not recommended, but some people require longer therapy to avoid resuming smoking or returning to their previous tobacco use.The simultaneous provision of medical counseling and the provision of psychological support usually enhances the effectiveness of therapy.
Temporary smoking cessation
Nicorette chewing gum? Fresh mint can be used when you need to refrain from smoking, such as when you are in a non-smoking area or in other situations where you need to refrain from smoking.
In combination with a transdermal patch
Nicorette chewing gum? Fresh mint with a dosage of 2 mg can also be used in conjunction with a patch in situations where, while using the patch, a person continues to periodically experience an irresistible urge to smoke, or if it was not possible to quit smoking using only chewing gum or only a patch.Chewing gum Nicorette in combination with a patch? Fresh mint in a dosage of 2 mg allows you to quickly relieve strong urges to smoke when needed. Patients should completely stop smoking during therapy.
Initial therapy:
Treatment should begin with a 25 mg / 16 hour patch (stage 1) in combination with 2 mg chewing gum. At the same time, at least 4 chewing gums, 2 mg per day, are used; usually 5–6 chewing gums are sufficient. The number of chewing gums should not exceed 15 pieces per day.Usually, the general course of treatment lasts for 8 weeks. Thereafter, the dose of nicotine should be reduced gradually.
The patch is applied immediately after waking up in the morning and removed at bedtime. The patch should be applied to dry, clean, intact skin that does not contain hair, such as thighs, upper limbs, or chest. It is necessary to change the place of overlap every day: do not use the same area for the next two days.
After applying the patch, wash your hands thoroughly to avoid eye irritation from possible exposure to nicotine.Cancellation of combination therapy:
There are two ways to cancel combination therapy.
Method 1: within the next 2 weeks it is necessary to switch from a patch 25 mg / 16 hours (stage 1) to a patch 15 mg / 16 hours (stage 2), and then within the next 2 weeks to a patch 10 mg / 16 hours (stage 3 ) while maintaining the amount of Nicorette gum used? Fresh mint at 2 mg as for Initial Therapy. Further, the amount of chewing gum is gradually reduced until it is completely canceled within the time that a person needs, depending on his needs, but no later than 12 months after the start of the combination therapy.Method 2: consists in completely canceling the patch immediately after the end of the Initial therapy phase. Next, gradually reduce the amount of Nicorette gum? Fresh mint with a dosage of 2 mg until complete withdrawal within the time that a person needs, depending on his needs, but no later than 12 months after the start of the combination therapy.

Side effects

Some symptoms may be due to nicotine withdrawal due to smoking cessation.These include: dysphoria or depressed mood, insomnia, irritability, frustration or anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, or impatience. Other effects associated with smoking cessation may also be observed: decreased heart rate, increased appetite or weight gain, dizziness or pre-syncope, cough, constipation, bleeding gums or aphthous ulcers, nasopharyngitis. Nicotine cravings considered clinically significant? an important manifestation of nicotine withdrawal after smoking cessation.Most of the adverse reactions were observed in the early phase of treatment and are predominantly dose-dependent.
In the first few days of treatment, irritation of the oral mucosa and pharynx may occur. Continued treatment leads to adaptation.
Allergic reactions (including symptoms of anaphylaxis) rarely develop when using Fresh Mint medicinal chewing gums.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to nicotine or other chewing gum components.

Overdose

Excessive intake of nicotine during substitution therapy and / or smoking may cause symptoms of overdose.
Overdose symptoms are similar to those of acute nicotine poisoning and include nausea, salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, headache, dizziness, hearing impairment, and severe weakness. When using high doses of nicotine, arterial hypotension, weak and irregular pulse, shortness of breath, circulatory collapse and generalized convulsions may occur.Nicotine in doses tolerated by adult smokers can cause severe intoxication symptoms in young children, including fatal ones.
Overdose treatment: you should immediately stop using nicotine and prescribe symptomatic treatment. Activated carbon reduces the absorption of nicotine in the gastrointestinal tract. Artificial respiration and oxygen are prescribed if necessary.

Special
instructions

Patients with diabetes mellitus after stopping smoking may require a decrease in insulin doses.Nicotine doses that are easily tolerated by adult and teenage smokers can cause severe toxicity in children, which can lead to death. It is important not to leave nicotine preparations unattended, as this could lead to inappropriate use and swallowing by children. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contained in tobacco smoke induce the metabolism of drugs metabolized by the isoenzyme CYP1A2 (and possibly CYP1A1). Smoking cessation can slow down the metabolism and, as a result, increase the concentration of these drugs in the blood.This has potential clinical relevance for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, such as theophylline, tacrine, clozapine and ropinirole. Persons with impaired chewing function are recommended to use other dosage forms. Denture wearers may have difficulty chewing Nicorette gum. Chewing gum can stick to dentures and, in rare cases, damage them. If the medicine has become unusable or has expired? do not dispose of it in waste water or outside! Place the medicine in a bag and put it in the trash can.These measures will help protect the environment!

Interaction with other drugs

There is no clear clinically significant interaction between nicotine replacement therapy and other drugs. However, in theory, nicotine can enhance the hemodynamic effects of adenosine, i.e. lead to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as increase the response to pain (chest pain in the type of angina pectoris) provoked by the administration of adenosine.

Roster

1 medicinal chewing gum contains:

Active ingredient:

nicotine-polymer complex? 22 mg (the indicated amount is equivalent to 4.4 mg of nicotine, including a 10% excess).

Excipients:

Chewing gum core medicinal: chewing gum (base) *? 560 mg, xylitol? 302 mg, peppermint oil 30 mg sodium carbonate 30 mg, acesulfame potassium? 2 mg, levomenthol? 2 mg, magnesium oxide? 1 mg, quinoline yellow E104? 1 mg;

Coating chewing gum medicinal:
xylitol? 294 mg, peppermint oil 9 mg, gum arabic? 9 mg titanium dioxide? 7 mg, carnauba wax? 1 mg, quinoline yellow E104? 0.06 mg.

* Chewing gum base is a mixture of various types of wax, resin and other hydrocarbons (about 60%) and calcium carbonate (up to 40%).

Conditions
storage

class = “h4-mobile”>

The drug should be stored out of the reach of children at a temperature not exceeding +25 C. Shelf life – 3 years.

Nicorette chewing gum 4mg No. 30 fresh fruit (Nicotine)

For the treatment of tobacco dependence: reduction of withdrawal symptoms arising from complete cessation of smoking in patients who decided to quit smoking; with temporary cessation of smoking; to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked in those who cannot or do not want to completely quit smoking.

Hypersensitivity to nicotine and other components of the drug.
With caution and only after consulting a doctor, the drug should be used in patients with disorders of the cardiovascular system, incl. who have had cardiovascular disease within 1 month before starting use (including stroke, myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty), or with uncontrolled arterial hypertension.With caution, the drug should be prescribed to patients with moderate or severe liver dysfunction, severe renal failure, exacerbation of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
The drug should be used with caution in patients with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma (due to the fact that nicotine causes the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla), as well as diabetes mellitus.
Nicotine crosses the placental barrier and can have a negative effect on the respiratory system and circulation of the fetus.Smoking can harm the fetus, so patients should be encouraged to quit smoking without using nicotine replacement therapy. If such attempts are unsuccessful, the decision to conduct therapy is made after comparing the possible positive effect and potential harm.
Nicotine (even when used in therapeutic doses) in small amounts is excreted in breast milk and can have an adverse effect on an infant when the drug is taken by a nursing mother.In order to reduce the negative effect of nicotine on the child, the drug Nicorette should be used immediately after feeding.

Active substance: Nicotine.
Product form: 1. Chewing gum Fresh mint 2 mg No. 30; 2. Chewing gums Fresh mint 4 mg # 30; 3. Chewing gum Frosty mint 2 mg No. 30; 4. Chewing gum Frosty mint 4 mg No. 30; five.Chewing gum Fresh fruit 2 mg # 30; 6. Chewing gum Fresh fruit 4 mg # 30.

Depending on the severity of the addiction to smoking, Nicorette chewing gum is used with various concentrations of the active substance.
If the patient smokes 20 or fewer cigarettes per day or smokes the first cigarette 30 minutes after waking up, then chewing gum with a nicotine content of 2 mg should be used.If the patient smokes more than 20 cigarettes per day or has been unable to quit smoking while using chewing gum with 2 mg nicotine, then chewing gum with 4 mg nicotine is recommended.
Nicorette should be used in all cases when there is an irresistible urge to smoke. The gum should be chewed slowly until a strong taste develops, then the chewing should be stopped and the gum should be placed between the gum and the inside of the cheek. After the taste has disappeared, chewing should be resumed.Only 1 chewing gum should be used at a time.
With a complete cessation of smoking, the average daily dose is 8-12 gums, the maximum – 15 gums. It is necessary to use the drug continuously for the first 3 months after quitting smoking. Then you should gradually reduce the amount of consumed gums. When the daily consumption of the drug decreases to 1-2 gum, its use should be discontinued.
When reducing the number of cigarettes smoked, chewing gum should be used between smoking episodes to lengthen the intervals between smoking cigarettes in order to minimize cigarette consumption.The patient should be warned that if, after 6 weeks of using the drug, it was not possible to reduce the daily consumption of cigarettes, you should consult a specialist doctor.
The patient should try to quit smoking when he is ready for it, but no later than 6 months after starting treatment. If within 9 months after the start of therapy it was not possible to quit smoking, you should seek the advice of a specialist.
It is not recommended to use Nicorette chewing gum for more than 12 months.However, some patients may need longer treatment to prevent a return to smoking or return to their previous level of tobacco use.
Chewing gum can be used during periods when you need to temporarily quit smoking, such as when you are in a non-smoking area or in other situations where you need to refrain from smoking.
Consultation with a specialist and psychological support contribute to the effectiveness of therapy.

Special instructions: The use of the drug Nicorette is accompanied by a lower risk than smoking.Patients who wear removable dentures may have difficulty using Nicorette chewing gum. Chewing gum can stick to the denture and in rare cases damage it.
Patients with diabetes mellitus may need to reduce insulin doses after smoking cessation.
Minor indigestion caused by chewing gum with 4 mg nicotine can be alleviated by chewing the gum more slowly or by using gum containing 2 mg of nicotine (at shorter intervals if necessary).The patient should be informed that he should carry Nicorette chewing gum with him in order to use it if he suddenly wants to smoke.
The question of prescribing the drug to patients under the age of 18 is decided by the doctor individually.
No negative impact on the ability to drive a car and work with mechanisms has been established.

Interaction with other drugs: Smoking (but not the use of nicotine) causes an increase in CYP1A2 activity.After smoking cessation, a decrease in the clearance of substrates of this enzyme may be observed, which can lead to an increase in the concentration of certain drugs in the blood plasma, which has potential clinical significance with the simultaneous use of drugs characterized by a small latitude of therapeutic action (theophylline, tacrine, clozapine, ropinirole).
Limited evidence suggests that smoking can induce the metabolism of flecainide and pentazocine.
Side effects: Most of the adverse reactions are observed during the first 3-4 weeks of using the drug and are dose-dependent.At the beginning of treatment: sometimes – slight irritation of the throat and increased salivation; if an excessive amount of dissolved nicotine is swallowed – hiccups.
With excessive use of the drug by persons not accustomed to inhaling tobacco smoke: nausea, weakness, headache.
On the part of the digestive system: when using chewing gum with a nicotine content of 4 mg in patients prone to indigestion – indigestion, heartburn.
Dizziness, headache, sleep disturbances can be manifestations of withdrawal symptoms caused by smoking cessation.Quitting smoking may increase the incidence of aphthous stomatitis.
From the side of the central nervous system: very often – headache; often – dizziness.
From the side of the cardiovascular system: infrequently – heart palpitations; very rarely – atrial fibrillation.
From the digestive system: very often – gastrointestinal discomfort, hiccups, nausea; often vomiting.
Dermatological reactions: infrequently – erythema, urticaria.
Others: very often – sore throat or mouth, pain in the chewing muscles; rarely – allergic reactions, including angioedema.

90,000 Replacement effect. Does Nicotine Gum Help You Quit Smoking? Healthy life | Health

One of the methods popular today is the use of a special gum containing nicotine. At the same time, not everyone understands the mechanism of its action, as well as how exactly it helps to cope with the problem. About what such therapy is, and what should be taken into account when using chewing gum, AiF.ru was told by a specialist in public health and healthcare Pavel Stotsko .

Alternative

These specialized gum are becoming an alternative to smoking cigarettes for one reason: they contain nicotine. Dosages are calculated by doctors and scientists, whose services the manufacturers of such funds resort to. This means that they can only conditionally be called a “healthier” option than smoking. Such gum is an element of nicotine replacement therapy, which is designed to rid a person of addiction. It should be understood that this is not addiction therapy, because nicotine itself is toxic.And when it enters the bloodstream when chewing such a gum, one cannot say that the human body does not suffer. However, the advantage of such a remedy is the fact that various resins and carcinogenic substances that a person receives from an ordinary cigarette do not enter the body. This means that nicotine gum can still be called a safer option.

If it is very difficult to quit smoking on your own, then gum will be an excellent solution. It is even often recommended as a therapy in the United States.After all, nicotine obtained in this way, despite its toxicity, does not cause cancer, which, in fact, is the main danger of traditional smoking.

How It Works

When smoking in the traditional way, nicotine enters the brain through the lungs, quickly absorbed. Everything takes about 20 seconds. If you use gum, the process will take longer. We have a fairly extensive choroid plexus under our tongue. It is through it that nicotine will enter when chewing.First into the superficial vessels, then into the blood. In this case, nicotine will reach the brain in about 20 minutes. Therefore, there is no need to expect a lightning-fast effect from gum.

It should be understood that nicotine, which entered the body in this way, still retains its toxic properties. Its effect can cause serious disturbances in the human body: from malfunctions in the work of certain organs to cellular destruction. Therefore, you cannot use the chewing gum longer than the time allowed according to the instructions.

It should be borne in mind that nicotine gum is not recommended for use by pregnant women, i.e.because the effect of nicotine on the development of the fetus will be as negative as with traditional smoking. In addition, the target organs for nicotine are the most important systems: the cardiovascular system, liver, brain.

By itself, chewing gum can also damage health: due to its frequent use, a stomach ulcer can develop, other negative manifestations of gastroenterological problems are noted, and tooth enamel often suffers.

We comply with the rules

The use of nicotine replacement therapy must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist: a psychologist or a narcologist.In addition, you should strictly follow the instructions and not abuse such a tool. If suddenly, which happens extremely rarely, an addiction has formed or an overdose is noted, there is only one way out: contact specialists, it is they who will help to cope with the problem.

It should also be borne in mind that this method cannot be called a panacea. Studies carried out more than 30 years ago showed that people from the control groups who used nicotine chewing gum instead of cigarettes, some time after the end of the experiment – literally within six months – began to smoke again.

And here I see only one way to deal with the problem: a volitional decision of the person himself. If he is psychologically ready and tuned in to get rid of the bad habit, then he will stop smoking. Yes, in some cases, substitution therapy may be required: for example, if the process is difficult. A person who has firmly planned smoking cessation needs a clear program: what for what and how he will perform in order to part with a cigarette. It may be necessary to gradually switch from nicotine gum to regular gum.At the same time, I believe that quitting tobacco is not as difficult as many people think. Smoking does not cause strong addiction; rather, it is psychological attitudes.

Additional options

Today, doctors often advise using nasal nicotine sprays instead of chewing gum. A person simply inhales them and gets the same effect as from using a regular cigarette. However, it should be understood that even here a person does not get rid of addiction. It will be just as difficult for him to give up the spray as it is on cigarettes.

In a word, there is only one way out: to gather the will into a fist and make a fundamental decision about whether to continue poisoning your body.

See also:

90,000 Can Psychedelics Quit Smoking

• Tim Mohan
• BBC Future

July 17, 2015

Photo Credit, Getty

A group of scientists gives hallucinogens to people with nicotine addiction to help them quit smoking … Correspondent

BBC Future has been in the lab where this surprising experiment is being born.

Nicotine patches, chewing gum, quitting smoking immediately and completely … Quitting smoking cigarettes can be difficult at times, but there are many ways smokers can do it. Matthew Johnson wants to add another one to them. He says he can help quit smoking with another drug, psilocybin, which has been banned for many years in many countries in Europe and North America. Yes, Johnson, of course, understands that this sounds somewhat unconventional.

“I agree that such experiences may seem counterintuitive,” he tells me. We’re talking at the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Institute at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore.

Cat and Mouse Play and Science

Johnson is a behavioral pharmacologist who has been researching the relationships between drugs, the brain and human behavior for over 20 years. For the past 10 years he has been working in this laboratory at the Johns Hopkins Center, where he and his team have focused their attention on psilocybin, a natural psychedelic, the active ingredient found in so-called magic mushrooms.It may be illegal, but if psilocybin is given to smokers under strict control several times, it can be amazingly effective in helping to overcome the habit, he says.

“Most people will naturally conclude that we are looking for substitution therapy in the spirit of replacing heroin addiction with methadone or using nicotine patch or nicotine chewing gum as a substitute for smoking. We are not talking about giving anyone psilobin. or mushrooms every day.It’s not about replacing one addiction with another. ”

Photo Credit, Thinkstock

Caption,

When psilocybin is given to smokers under strict control several times, it can provide amazingly effective relief.

in the 1950s and 1960s, work on the use of psilocybin and LSD for the treatment of drug addiction, although the first results were promising, later research came to a standstill.These substances spread beyond the scientific laboratories and ended up in the environment of the then nascent drug counterculture. Drugs were criminalized and clinical trials became impossible.

“These compounds were banned for the wrong reasons,” Johnson explains. that we do not allow scientific research.In fact, we are playing cat and mouse. Everything should have been completed by the mid-1970s, but the research program was completely frozen for many decades. “

In 2008, Johnson co-authored a paper entitled

“The effect of hallucinogens on humans. Safety Guide”. It contained proposals for a responsible approach to medical testing of psilocybin and other hallucinogens. The report provides recommendations on methods for selecting potential volunteers, preparing them for the upcoming experience, and safely conducting drug intake sessions.

This document reflected a change in research approach for such compounds, as well as the fact that more than 460 psilocybin sessions have been performed at Johns Hopkins Medical Center alone, with goals ranging from studying its effects on cancer patients to influencing meditation.

However, of all research areas, the pilot phase of work has been completed so far only under the Smoking Cessation program; it is she who has attracted everyone’s attention lately.

Conjuration

At first glance, the program may seem deceptively simple. Fifteen volunteers, all long-term smokers from Baltimore and the surrounding area, who have tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking more than once, begin with a course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), also called behavior modeling. ( CBT is based on the fact that a person’s feelings and behavior are determined not by the actual situation in which he finds himself, but by his perception of this situation.- Ed .). CBT is a standard psychological approach to smoking cessation, in which the therapist encourages the client to reflect on their established thinking patterns.

The fundamental point of the CBT program at Johns Hopkins is to write and constantly repeat a kind of personal mantra. Each volunteer composes a simple phrase in which he summarizes why he wants to quit smoking. “This is, if you will, our credo, the setting of the task.It is needed so that you can constantly remind yourself why you are quitting smoking. We have people who do it for the sake of the family: “I am here because my granddaughter needs it.” Others look at things more philosophically: “The air that I breathe. I want it to be clean.”

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Working with smokers begins quite traditionally, but then the unusual begins …

“Mantra” takes on even more importance the day they first take psilocybin.After four CBT sessions, the volunteers smoke their last cigarette. At least it should be that way by design. For some, this happens the night before, for others, literally before the session. “We had people smoking in the parking lot before we walked in here,” Johnson tells me.

Then it is time to take the medicine. Albert Garcia-Romo, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins who guides volunteers during CPR and psilocybin sessions, describes the procedure as follows: “We give them the opportunity to manage the capsule ( with the drug – Red .). We take their cell phones, we take their shoes. We give them some slippers. We want them to relax as they step into the day and feel like they are in the spa. They don’t need to rush to work. They don’t have to go about their day to day. “

” We are doing preliminary training. We help them have support if they need it, ”says Mary Cosimano, another mentor who has been in the field for over 15 years.“We tell them: we are at your disposal for as long as you may need.”

“As soon as the drug starts to work, we invite them to just lie down and relax,” continues Garcia-Romo. – They wear headphones. They cover their eyes with blindfolds. We let them just lie, watch and wait. “

Dive

From this point on, scientists step aside.” What we are doing is psychedelic therapy, “explains García-Romo.- In general, this is not talk therapy. As a rule, we try to keep them from getting too talkative, because it is very easy to dive into the curious sensual things that happen. We are trying to encourage them to go deeper into themselves, because this is where all the important work is done ( in the depths of consciousness – Red .). I’m primarily concerned with safety. ”

The purpose of the procedure, the team members explain to me, is to give participants the opportunity to experience a deep or mystical experience that will make them rethink their relationship with smoking.This is exactly like the New Age “drug talk” that in the past made it difficult for people to take this kind of research seriously. However, García-Romo’s explanations sound convincing and well-founded to me.

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

The experiences and experiences that patients may face range from visions of God to vivid personal memories.

“[Statistically] 71% of people quit smoking immediately after a heart attack, says Garcia- Romo.- A heart attack definitely belongs to the category of deep experiences, but it would never occur to anyone to provoke such a state in smokers to force them to quit smoking. On the contrary, our goal is to use deep psychedelic immersion to produce a similar effect and produce an intense abstract experience that will change the patient’s perspective on life. ”Scientists call this a mystical experience.

Ritual

Experiences and experiences. the experiences patients may encounter range from visions of God to vivid personal memories of their own life or childhood, he explains.

The secret to this feeling is to put the person in context, Johnson says. “According to the impression from our clinical practice, the manifestation of such experiences is most likely in conditions when the person feels completely safe and has a very strong contact with the people around him.” In addition, scientists have found that turning the act of taking the drug into a certain ritual is also beneficial.

“We ask them to bring their own photographs of different years, pictures of family members, acquaintances, different places, objects.We had people who filled the whole room with photographs, – recalls Cosimano. – It can also be some important things for them, some objects. People built similarities to altars. They bring stuffed animals or a blanket. These are the things that make them feel comfortable, safe, cozy and meaningful. ”

-behavioral therapy (CBT).

García-Romo and Cosimano show me the room where the sessions are held. It is exactly the same as they described it to me: a small, cozy room, bathed in soft light, with a comfortable sofa. They let me sit on this couch and serve up a wooden bowl, one of the ones their volunteers use. Books about Michelangelo and Van Gogh are scattered everywhere. An atmosphere of safety and comfort reigns in the room. Volunteers spend up to six hours here until the drug wears off, after which a family member takes them home.

Prejudice

Communicating with members of a team of scientists is literally mesmerizing. They exude genuine friendliness, exhibit exceptional professionalism, and demonstrate a true passion for their work. And yet I cannot shake the feeling that their activities seem illogical to me. It may be due to my own prejudice against these substances, but I am still skeptical.

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Most of the participants quit smoking

Nevertheless, the experimental program, albeit modest, produced amazing results.Of the 15 people, twelve still did not smoke six months after the experiments, the researchers say. “We think and hope that something new is happening here,” Johnson says.

“We met a couple of people who claimed something completely incredible, like that they do not feel cravings for nicotine, although they have smoked a pack a day for 40 years. When you come across this on the example of at least one person, it touches you depths of the soul “.

I keep up with him with questions.Why does he think that psilocybin can act in this way: is it a purely psychological effect, or does he believe that the drug directly affects the chemical processes in the brain? “As long as we have a psychological understanding,” he replies. “To put it simply, it is not the drug that affects the nicotinic receptors in the brain. Does the drug alter the way the brain interacts with its own nicotinic receptors? This.We don’t know yet. “

Johnson is not alone in the study of psychedelic therapy. Anthony Bossis is part of a team at New York University that is conducting similar experiments on the use of psilocybin for

overcoming feelings of anxiety in cancer patients. Johnson’s preliminary results made a strong impression on him. “These therapeutic approaches certainly deserve further and rigorous scientific study.”

This is where Johnson and his team are currently focusing on the next round of research. The number of volunteers has grown to 80 people. They undergo magnetic resonance imaging of the brain before and after therapy sessions so that scientists can get a better understanding of the neurophysiological effects of psilocybin. Obviously, there are many years of work ahead, but Johnson is positive and believes that such a method can be used to treat a variety of psychological and behavioral disorders, not just addictions like smoking.

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Mystical experience helps to quit smoking. But what other consequences it leads to, scientists do not yet know

There are other obstacles that will need to be overcome before such methods of treatment can become widespread. The main question is who exactly will develop such drugs on a commercial basis, says Thomas Inzel of the National Institute of Mental Health, which is run by the US government.As a rule, the pharmaceutical industry acts as the instigator in such works, he continues, but immediately notes that pharmacologists are not particularly interested in the development of drugs for the treatment of brain disorders. “In this regard, we can say that one of the varieties of ketamine, which was also an addictive drug, is being developed by Johnson & Johnson as an antidepressant.”

In addition, there are legal issues.”These drugs are used in the context of psychotherapy, but there are still no clearly written rules governing their use,” says Inzel. Obviously, these drugs will not be widely available in medicine very soon. “However, this is not a reason to abandon the development of therapeutic methods,” he said.

In any case, the encouraging results from the first limited trials may not be repeated when the trial is scaled up. Yet, decades later, during which psychedelic therapy has not been studied at all, scientists such as Johnson and his colleagues are trying to dig a little deeper into the unexpected effects of this ambiguous drug.

Disclaimer. All information contained in this article is for general information only and should not be construed as a substitute for the medical advice of your healthcare professional or any other healthcare professional. The BBC is not responsible and cannot be held responsible for the content of external Internet sites mentioned here. The BBC also does not call for the use of any commercial products or services mentioned or recommended on any of these sites.Always contact your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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