Green Living

Smoking: an enemy of health and beauty (Part 2)

The nicotine in cigarettes is the main factor causing addiction.

The nicotine in cigarettes is the main factor causing addiction. When a smoker inhales tobacco smoke, nicotine from the smoke stimulates the cells of the brain to secrete a neurotransmitter named dopamine. This produces transient pleasurable feelings that make the smoker wants to smoke more. Over time, the smoker will develop a nicotine dependency. As the time since smoking the last cigarette lengthens, the amount of nicotine in the smoker's blood falls, and the smoker experiences withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, headaches, irritability, insomnia and difficulty in concentrating.

People can quit smoking by seeking counselling and receiving drug treatment. Both the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority have smoking cessation hotlines to assist smokers to quit the addiction.

Drugs Commonly Used To Kick the Smoking Habit

1. Bupropion - A prescription only medication. It acts by adjusting the release of dopamine and adrenaline in the brain. Bupropion helps to reduce cravings for cigarettes and withdrawal symptoms. In general, the duration of treatment is 7 to 12 weeks under the supervision of physicians.
   Common side effects are dry mouth, headaches, sweating, constipation, nervousness and tiredness.
2. Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Such drugs contain nicotine but not the other harmful ingredients of a cigarette. Nicotine is used here to alleviate the smoker's discomfort during the withdrawal period. The amount of the drug is gradually reduced as treatment progresses, until the habit is totally broken.

1. Nicotine Gum
   This is suitable for smokers whose smoking patterns are irregular. It can be put into the mouth and chewed slowly until the taste gets stronger. The chewing gum is then parked in the cheek. As the taste dissipates, the gum is again chewed on, and this 'bite- park' process should be repeated for thirty minutes before the gum is discarded. Inappropriate use of nicotine gum may cause sore throat, hiccuping and heart burn.
2. Nicotine Patches
   These are suitable for smokers who have a regular smoking habit and who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day. The nicotine patches should be applied to clean, dry and non-hairy skin, e.g. on an upper arm, buttock or thigh. The patch sites should be changed each day so as to avoid skin irritation. Side effects from these patches may be headaches and insomnia.
3. Nicotine Inhalers
   The size and shape of the inhalers resemble a cigarette, so they are suitable for highly behavioral - dependent smokers. Each cartridge for the inhaler contains 10mg nicotine. Inhalation causes air saturated with vaporized nicotine to be drawn into the upper respiratory tract. Initial use may cause mouth and throat discomfort.

Source: Drug Education Resources Centre, The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong

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