Nicotine Patches, Gums Won't Help Smokers Quit Long-Term: Study

MONDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Nicotine patches and nicotine gum -- the popular mainstays of so-called "nicotine replacement therapy" -- don't help many smokers kick the habit and remain cigarette-free over the long haul, new research suggests.

This conclusion is based on results of several surveys conducted among nearly 800 adult smokers that revealed that those who used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) did not gain any advantage over non-users in terms of relapse rates.

This observation held up among both heavy and light smokers, regardless of whether or not nicotine replacem

Why The Laser Industry Needs More Regulation

Did you know? There is currently no governing body that regulates the certification of laser technicians, so the term “certified laser technician” is essentially meaningless. There are provincial governing bodies for many other healthcare practitioners, including doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, kinesiologists and chiropractors. Sadly, the lack of regulation of laser technicians leaves the public vulnerable to negligence or, at the very least, inadequate and uninformed care.

Thankfully, the laser manufacturing industry makes an effort to protect the public where the current laws fall short. Laser manufa

Government Funds Quit Smoking Drugs, Endangers Health?

KELOWNA, BC, October 24, 2011 HealthPoint Laser Clinic Inc. (“HealthPoint”) has appealed to the Provincial Government to re-examine its policy on providing a free three month supply of nicotine cessation drugs to the public.

Scott Fader, a registered kinesiologist who founded HealthPoint Laser Clinic in Kelowna in 2009, has successfully treated over 600 smokers with a non-invasive, painless form of laser therapy, achieving a more than a 90% success rate. Fader says that the government’s policy encourages smokers to replace one drug with another and exposes the user to dangerous, even lethal side

Nicotine Patch Success Rate - 7%

As far as the nicotine patch goes, the most common complaints I hear are skin irritation, headache and pain radiating from the area.  This product employs the theory of harm reduction.  No different than the methadone program.  Methadone still kills you, just not as fast as heroin does.

Studies suggest that you truly would have to be a superhero to quit while using the nicotine patch if you'd already attempted using it once and relapsed. The only two patch user "recycling" studies ever conducted both show that nearly 100% of second-time nicotine patch users relapse to smoking nicotine within six months.

Nicotine Inhaler Success Rate - 11%

I honestly don't hear from many people that say they use or have used the nicotine inhaler.  The ones that do talk about the terrible taste and irritation of the throat.  This has to be one of the worst ideas I have seen!  Here you go, try to stop a hand to mouth habit by reinforcing it.  Clearly the intent is for the individual to continue using the product indefinitely. 

Each cartridge delivers up to 400 puffs of nicotine vapor. It takes at least 80 puffs to obtain the equivalent amount of nicotine delivered by one cigarette.  The initial dosage is individualized. The best effect is achieve

Want to hear an interesting story?  How did Zyban come to be a stop smoking medication? 

Zyban or Wellbutrin is an anti-depressant but not an SSRI and is chemically unrelated to every other antidepressant medication; researchers are still not sure how it works. In the 25 or so years since it was first introduced, Prozac and its close chemical relatives, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs (Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox and Celexa), have become the nation's most popular anti-depressants. They do a great job of parting the black clouds of depression, and many people swear that SSRIs ha

Nicotine Gum Success rate - 7%

Most people I talk to about the use of nicotine gum report the unpleasant taste, frequent mouth sores and upset stomach.  Also, at close to $40 per pack which lasts the average smoker 4 to 5 days, not much of a bargain.  Especially if the intent of the pharmaceutical companies who make it is for you to continue chewing it forever. 

I have treated someone who was chewing nicotine gum for 14 years!  Studies have shown that 36.6% of all current nicotine gum users are chronic long-term users.  The fact that nicotine gum is much less harmful than cigarettes doesn't really help, as nicotine in any amount is inju

Champix Success Rate - 25%

I do treat many people who have tried Champix (varenicline).  I do not hear many good stories about the drug with unusual dreams, nausea and depression being a very common complaint.  Pfizer, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, manufactures this drug.  How well is this drug marketed?  Worldwide sales of Champix were $755 million last year alone.  But what of the adverse effects?

Here are some interesting stats.  The Institute for Safe Medicine Practices (ISMP), a non profit agency that regularly measures the FDA's adverse event database found that these reports

*Important - please read* Published in the Globe and Mail Monday, Jul. 04, 2011 12:01PM EDT

A popular smoking-cessation medication may be linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, a new study has found, adding to questions about the drug’s safety.

Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday shows that people who took varenicline were more likely to experience “serious adverse cardiovascular events,” such as an irregular heart beat, heart attack or stroke, than people who took a placebo.

“If you’re a smoker and you’re thinking of quitting, there are cheaper and safer ways to quit smo

When a co-worker of mine told me about Scott at HealthPoint Laser Clinic, I was on pills for chronic pain of migraines, neck pain left side, bicep left arm pain, lower back pain, swelling of the knee and foot all on left side.  Had been adjusted by Chiropractic for 35 years and always told that I would have to increase treatments if I wanted to get better.

At first the migraines with Chiropractic appointments eased up. The treatments would last between 3 and 4 months.  In the last year, treatments wouldn't help for more than a day.  So, the myth of Chiropractic repeat visits treating the symptoms no longer made sense.  They always told me that the treat

We liked this testimonial so much that we made it a blog post!  Thank you so much Robert and congratulations on your continued success! 

I am different than most Canadian born males, the baby boomers of the late 50's or early 60's, in that I never tried to quit smoking.  Never.  Born in 1957, raised in Vancouver in a non-smoking, non-drinking household.  I became rather good at both pastimes by the time I graduated from John Oliver High School in 1975.

We would like to wish a safe and happy holiday season from all of us here at HealthPoint Laser.  We would like to thank everyone for making 2010 an amazing year.  We are happy to have helped so many people make positive, lasting changes in their lives.  We are looking forward to a wonderful 2011 and helping you make this the year to fulfill whatever dreams you may have.  If you are looking to quit smoking, end addictions, get rid of pain and stress, lose weight and look younger, you have come to the right place.  Remember that we can all have, do or be anything we desire in life.  Desire is where the journey begins and when combined with focu