Alternatives to Medication

It is possible to quit without using any medications. It can be very hard and uncomfortable. Medication can make quitting more comfortable. The tools and resources on EX Program are designed to help you tackle all aspects of quitting, whether you use medication or not.

E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a quit-smoking aid. Because nearly all e-cigarettes contain nicotine, people can become addicted to e-cigarettes. Many e-cigarettes are designed to deliver high levels of nicotine very quickly. Get information on quitting e-cigarettes here.

E-cigarettes can feel like smoking but without any smoke. Even though they don't contain tobacco, the chemicals in them are not harmless. Some of these chemicals cause cancer and other negative effects throughout the body.

E-cigarette aerosol has been found to contain chemicals including:

• Heavy metals like lead
• Propylene glycol
• Glycerin
• Thousands of different flavoring combinations
• Lots of other chemicals, including formaldehyde

Zyn and other nicotine pouches are not approved by the FDA as a quit-smoking aid, though some Zyn products have been authorized to be sold legally in the U.S. Some people describe feeling just as addicted to Zyn or other nicotine pouches as they were to any other tobacco product. Get information on quitting Zyn here.

Zyn pouches do not involve inhaling any vapor or smoke. Since they don't burn tobacco, they’re assumed to be less harmful than regular cigarettes. The long-term health effects of nicotine pouches like Zyn are unknown.

Hypnosis is a sleep-like state when people are more open to suggestion. The commands they hear when they are under hypnosis are supposed to change their behavior when they wake up. It’s fun to watch on TV. But scientific studies have shown it doesn't help for quitting smoking. Nicotine changes the way your brain works and may be too powerful for hypnosis. It’s best to use the quit methods that science has shown really work. Learn more about nicotine and your brain here.

Some people say that laser therapy and acupuncture can help for quitting. The idea is that they help your body make chemicals called endorphins, which decrease nicotine cravings. But, there's no science that backs this up. Will laser therapy or acupuncture hurt you? No. But they probably won't help you quit either. And they cost money.