Antidepressants to Stop Smoking
Stopping
smoking is hard for many reasons, but the single greatest roadblock that many people have to cross is the way that nicotine works
on your nervous system. Many smokers fall back on nicotine when they are stressed, so when they stop smoking they have to learn anew how to
deal with these feelings.
Nicotine doesn't just help when you're stressed though. Its actually both a mild relaxant and a mild stimulant. Smokers depend on cigarettes to 'center' their emotions when they are tired or stressed. Using antidepressants can replace nicotine's role in your life and release you from this psychological addiction.
Who might need Antidepressants?
If you are prone to depression or anxiety, or you have it in your family history, then antidepressants may be an excellent tool for you to stop smoking. Some smokers recognize the depressive or anxious tendency in their family, but have simply been using cigarettes for so long that they have never realized they too have the same problems!
In addition, the older we get the more likely it is that we struggle with these afflictions. As we hit middle- and old-age, the fact is that depression and anxiety become much more frequent. Elderly smokers will therefore have a harder time with psychological withdrawal than their younger counterparts.
Even if you don't have either of these problems, you should still consider antidepressants as an option. Nicotine's role as both a stimulant and a relaxant means that it becomes an emotional crux that we fall back on in tough times. The trouble is, these tough times are exactly when our willpower and emotional strength are at their lowest, so giving up becomes twice as hard. Antidepressants fill that gap by restoring your emotions to a balanced state.
Which Antidepressant should you use?
Zyban (Bupropion)
Zyban was originally created as an antidepressant, but users soon began to report decreased withdrawal symptoms while trying to stop
smoking. Originally marketed under the name Wellbutrin, this prescription-strength medicine was repackaged as Zyban and marketed as a
smoking cessation aid, the first antidepressant to be so.
Zyban works on the chemical messengers that operate inside the brain. By increasing the activity of these chemicals, nicotine withdrawal is markedly reduced. As Zyban was never really designed for this purpose, the exact process by which it works is unclear. The results are not however, as more than a third of smokers who use Zyban are able to quit for at least a month.
As with all prescription-strength drugs, consult your doctor about what exactly you need. There is a remote risk of seizures or other medical conditions, and users may experience a dry mouth and some sleepiness. Zyban can be used with some other NRT treatments
Chantix (Varenicline Tartrate)
Although not strictly an antidepressant, Chantix has similar effects, plus it works in a couple of other ways too. It is marketed by Pfizer
and available on prescription.
Firstly, the brain has certain nerves, known as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, that are directly affected by nicotine. Smoking a cigarette activates these sites, releasing dopamine into the bloodstream and regulating things like heart rate, appetite, mood and breathing. These sites are responsible for the familiar high that a cigarette brings, and also the calming effect on your nerves.
Chantix works by activating these areas of the brain, simulating the experience of taking in nicotine. This gives the smoker mild nicotine-like effects and eases the withdrawal process.
Secondly, Chantix actually stops nicotine from having its usual effect on the brain. Essentially, because Chantix is already in place at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, there is nowhere for the nicotine to go. This means that even if you have a cigarette while taking Chantix, its effects will be much less potent than usual. Smoking becomes a very unfulfilling experience, and hopefully a habit that's much easier to kick.
Chantix works in two ways then. First it reproduces some of the effects of nicotine, then it stops nicotine from actually working. This is why its such an effective drug. When used alone the success rate of Chantix was found to be around 22%, relatively high for a stop smoking aid. However, this becomes much higher when other lifestyle changes are made or when the smoker goes to hypnotherapy or counselling.
Herbal Remedies
There are a number of herbal remedies that can help you to stop smoking. Some are antidepressants, some not. Check out our Herbal Remedies page
for more information on Lobelia, St Johns Wort, Ginseng and other alternative treatments.
What are the side effects of Antidepressants?
The side effects of each medicine will vary. Be sure to tell your doctor about any pre-existing medical condions, and your full medical history. If you experience any side effects, consult a medical professional as soon as possible.