There are several aids for quitting smoking on the market that are used in a process called Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Nicorette is one of these aids. In its most popular form, it is a chewing gum with nicotine bonded so that it is released into your bloodstream while you chew it. Nicorette is produced using other delivery methods such as a lozenge, inhaler, and patch but the idea of delivering nicotine without smoke is still the same. The principal behind NRT is that if you give smokers nicotine without the harmful effects of cigarette smoke and gradually reduce the dosage, they will successfully kick the habit. Success also depends on the smoker's ability to modify behavior so that the psychological habit is broken as well. So how do smokers who have been successful at quitting smoking go about this process?

You first have to make the decision to quit smoking. Take an inventory of the negative effects smoking has on your life. Think of the expense of smoking in terms of both wasted time and money. Smoking is a big waste of time these days because most have to go to a designated area to indulge their habit. And the biggest reason most decide to quit is because they are tired of wheezing, coughing, and having a foul odor stick to their body and clothing. Your decision to quit smoking should come from you although it is recommended that you tell friends and family of your decision so that they can hold you accountable as well as encourage you.

Use Nicorette to take the edge off of your cravings for nicotine. A program for quitting smoking must deal with both the psychological and physical dependencies you have on nicotine. The intent behind Nicorette is to help you get through the physical dependency. A Nicorette program specifies that over the prescribed period (usually 8-12 weeks), you will gradually decrease use of the product until you no longer feel the need to ingest nicotine.

If you have certain health conditions, consult your doctor before using Nicorette. Because nicotine is a stimulant, you should consult your doctor if you have heart conditions, are pregnant, are breast-feeding, taking other medications, or have allergies that could react with the product.

While you are using Nicorette, work on the behavioral modifications needed for quitting smoking. For example, some smokers love to have coffee with a cigarette in the morning and Nicorette may not be a good substitute for that combination. This is a situation where you will have to learn to start drinking your coffee and roll a toothpick in your mouth. Instead of taking a break at work in the smoking area, you can go for a walk. If you are in a social situation and drinking alcohol, a favorite combination for smoking, you may need to munch on some snacks instead. If you are worried about munching on snacks, burn any extra calories through a regular exercise program. Consider that a little weight gain is not near as harmful to your health as cigarettes.

You will finally have to get over your dependency on Nicorette. For many, finally releasing the Nicorette can be almost as difficult as quitting smoking. This is in spite of the fact that you gradually reduced the dosage of the product. While coming off nicotine can make you anxious, cranky, and uncomfortable, the physical withdrawal only lasts for a short time. If you have successfully modified your behavior to avoid smoking then you should be able to get through the minor discomfort of coming off Nicorette.