Nicorette Fresh Mint...It Helps By Jessica Yamaguchi on May 23, 2008 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

I started smoking regularly when I was 15 years old, I thought it was cool. I am now 34 years old. Today I regret ever starting! It has been a terrible struggle to STOP smoking! I do really well when I FIRST quit...then the physical withdrawls hit and it's impossible! Lets not even talk about the mood swings from it!....the last time I tried to quit, my husband actually snuck out to the store and bought me a pack of cigarrettes because I was so freaked out and being nasty, HE couldn't take it any more! I know...I sound like a big baby! But if you have been a dedicated smoker for any real length of time and then tried to quit...you know exactly what I mean!! It's kind of uncontrollable. For some reason you hate everyone and can't help but feel mad MAD MAD!!! Like it's their fault...I also cry a lot when I am quiting... Doesn't that sound fun? Screaming raging lunatic...crying 10 minutes later? I get head aches, and the cravings...well lets just say they are BAD!!

So, I have tried quiting quite a few times and I wanted to share my experience when i used the NICORETTE gum. First of all you have to choose the right strength...when I used this I used the 4mg strength...thats the highest strength for heavy smokers. They say that the first 1-6 weeks you are supposed to "chew" 1 piece every 1-2 hours...I am a firm believer that everyone is different and that you have to listen to YOUR body... (but of course be SAFE and stay WITHIN the recommended daily limits) this is what worked for me--

I found that I didn't need 1 piece every 1-2 hours...even from the first day. I used 6 pieces only in a 24 hour period. Nicorette comes in a few different flavors...I found the fruity one gross so I like the Fresh Mint gum they make. It reminds me of Chicklets Gum(anyone else remember those?)It's got that slight crunch on the outside and chewy gum on the inside.

One of the mistakes I made when using Nicorette was to chew it like a piece of regular GUM. That is NOT how you are supposed to do it! I mean you can...but it works better if you do it the way the directions tell you to! You are supposed to give it a few chops til you get a hot peppery feeling in your mouth..you'll feel it! It kinda burns a little. When you feel this...TUCK THE GUM INTO YOUR CHEEK and leave it there!!! When the "burning" stops, chomp it a few times again and then tuck it again...play this chomp - tuck game for as long as you can with that piece...you will know when it's "done" because you will no longer get that peppery feeling. It does take a few minutes (sometimes 10) to feel some relief from your craving so don't wait!

Ok... I also made the mistake of waiting til I was absolutely miserable with cravings...headache...moody anger fits...I thought I was tough enough to white knuckle it and that this was the better way to do it! This will lesson your chances of success! I learned that if I used a piece of gum as soon as the craving tickled at me...I was able to control it and maintain a calm! If I waited to use the gum...It was much harder to get control of myself/cravings/mood and was more likely to light a cigarrete instead.

I said earlier that I only needed 6 pieces in a 24 hour period...it was that way for about a week. It did vary a little, sometimes it was 12 pieces ina day. By the end of the 2nd week I was using 3 pieces a day and the cravings were MUCH easier to ignore. They had lessoned in intensity. Don't get me wrong...if something stressful happend, the raging lunatic craving came back STRONGLY. But on the normal daily side of things, it was much smoother. I was able to stop regular/daily use all of the gum in a little over 1 month. I did keep the gum on hand just in case. Things come up and old habits die hard.

This is just MY experience...you may have a different experience/ needs. All I can say is that I had no weird side effects from the gum, it was VERY helpful for my cravings. I have had to quit a bunch of times...this just made it a little easier...and a little more comfortable. Don't get me wrong...it is still hard...this just helps a bit. I would recommend trying Nicorette gum if you want to quit smoking...and don't give up keep at it! Don't get discouraged!

I started smoking again after over a year of NOT smoking... I am so disappointed and frustrated with myself! I'm dreading the quiting AGAIN...but this has worked in the past and I am confident that it will again.

You can buy this at just about any store and online. I will be getting mine from Wal-mart...unless I find it priced better online. For more information about Nicorette, quiting smoking,and coupons you can go to their website :

www.nicorette.com

Another note..This is not just for smokers, my husband uses chewing tobacco. The nicotine addiction/ craving is the same. Nicorette was also very helpful for him.