Zyban Most common side effect weight loss, insomnia, nervousness Infrequent side effects agitation, constipation, dry mouth, headache, nausea, skin problems, tremors, excessive sweating Rare side effects/Risks hypomania, seizures, tinnitus, white blood cell decrease Zyban's side effects
Gum Side effects -- Common side effects of nicotine chewing gum include mouth soreness, hiccups, dyspepsia, and jaw ache. These effects are generally mild and transient, and can often be alleviated by correcting the patient's chewing technique.
Pregnancy -- Pregnant smokers should first be encouraged to attempt cessation without pharmacologic treatment. Nicotine gum should be used during pregnancy only if the increased likelihood of smoking cessation, with its potential benefits, outweighs the risk of nicotine replacement and potential concomitant smoking.
Cardiovascular diseases -- Although not an independent risk factor for acute myocardial events, nicotine gum should be used only after consideration of risks and benefits among particular cardiovascular patient groups: those in the immediate (within 4 weeks) postmyocardial infarction period, those with serious arrhythmias, and those with serious or worsening angina pectoris.
Patch What are the Side Effects?: Remember that only some people will experience side effects--and that no one experiences side effects in exactly the same way. If you experience any side effects, contact your doctor or clinician right away and continue taking your medication. The following list may not contain all of the side effects associated with this medication:
Skin Irritation: The rash generally has one of two causes; a reaction to the adhesive on the patch, or a reaction to the nicotine.
Sleep Disturbance: Sleep disturbance almost always occurs in people who use the 24-hour patch. Since your mind is unaccustomed to receiving nicotine while asleep, it can cause strange effects. While using the 16-hour patch can avoid this problem, it often leaves the user craving a cigarette when they wake in the morning.
Pregnancy -- Pregnant smokers should first be encouraged to attempt cessation without pharmacologic treatment. The nicotine patch should be used during pregnancy only if the increased likelihood of smoking cessation, with its potential benefits, outweighs the risk of nicotine replacement and potential concomitant smoking. Similar factors should be considered in lactating women.
Cardiovascular diseases -- Although not an independent risk factor for acute myocardial events, the nicotine patch should be used only after consideration of risks and benefits among particular cardiovascular patient groups: those in the immediate (within 4 weeks) postmyocardial infarction period, those with serious arrhythmias, and those with severe or worsening angina pectoris.
Skin reactions -- Up to 50% of patients using the nicotine patch will have a local skin reaction. Skin reactions are usually mild and self-limiting, but may worsen over the course of therapy. Local treatment with hydrocortisone cream (5%) or triamcinolone cream (.5%) and rotating patch sites may ameliorate such local reactions. In less than 5% of patients do such reactions require the discontinuation of nicotine patch treatment.
Cigarette Smoking Related Diseases:
Bidi (same cost as cigs)
Editorial Note: When tested on a standard smoking machine, bidis produced higher levels of carbon monoxide, nicotine, and tar than cigarettes; one study found that bidis produced approximately three times the amount of carbon monoxide and nicotine and approximately five times the amount of tar than cigarettes. Because of low combustibility of the tendu leaf wrapper, bidi smokers inhale more often and more deeply, breathing in greater quantities of tar and other toxins than cigarette smokers. Like all tobacco products, bidis are mutagenic and carcinogenic. Bidi smokers risk coronary heart disease, cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, lung, esophagus, stomach, and liver. Prenatal mortality is also associated with bidi use during pregnancy.