Research suggests cessation of a nicotine addiction should be a gradual process to lessen withdrawal symptoms.
Rates of relapse are highest in the first few weeks and months and diminish considerably after 3 months.
It has been proven that pharmacological treatment combined with psychological treatment results in some of the highest long-term abstinence rates.
Nicotine chewing gum is one medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of nicotine dependence. In this form, the gum acts as a smoking replacement. Success rates vary considerably but evidence suggests it is a safe means if chewed according to instructions and restricted to patients under medical supervision.
Nicotine transdermal patch is adhered to the skin and delivers a relatively constant amount of nicotine to the bloodstream.
A medication called Zyban is not a nicotine replacement but instead works on other areas of the brain. Its intention is in helping to make controllable nicotine craving or thoughts about cigarettes in those trying to quit.
Promising Research:
Scientists have now pinpointed a particular molecule in the brain as a critical component in nicotine addiction. Studies with mice have implied that without this molecule the mice do not experience the positive reinforcing properties of nicotine. This new finding identifies a potential site for targeting the development of anti-nicotine addiction medications.
Other research found that individuals have greater resistance to nicotine addiction if they have a genetic decrease in the function of the enzyme CYP2A6. This decrease slows the breakdown of nicotine and protects individuals against nicotine addiction. Understanding this enzyme provides a new target for developing future medications.
In the future, a nicotine vaccine may be an effective method for preventing and treating tobacco addiction. The vaccine would prevent nicotine from reaching the brain so as to reduce its effects and help people from becoming addicted. Studies on this vaccine have shown that the amount of nicotine reaching the brain was reduced by 64%.
Genetic Influences:
The St. Louis University Health Sciences Center tested the role genes play in nicotine dependence with pairs of male twins - fraternal and identical - since they experienced common environmental influences. (Identical twins share the same genes, while fraternal twins share roughly half of their genes.) The success of the study was measured by the fact that if genes influence nicotine dependence, the identical twins will have more similar tobacco use than fraternal twins will.
The study found that genetics had a stronger contribution (61 percent) than environmental factors (39 percent).
