Antidepressant Drugs Help in Fighting the Withdrawal Symptoms Caused by Quitting Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking is very injurious to health. With each passing day, the number of people losing their life due to cigarette smoking is increasing. More and more people are falling prey to the bad spell caused by cigarette smoking. Quitting smoking is very important. People must realize the importance of quitting this harmful habit. But, one thing that people should keep in mind is that quitting smoking is liable to cause severe withdrawal symptoms. One must keep this thing in mind but, should not make it as an excuse of not quitting cigarette because all the withdrawal symptoms can be managed by the use of antidepressant drugs.

Quitting cigarette causes many withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking are quite like the symptoms of depression. Thus, those who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms can rely on the antidepressant drugs to relieve some symptoms.

There are several researches that support the fact that people who are depressed show the same altered level of neurotransmitters in the bodies. The neurotransmitters show very little activity in the brain areas that control the emotions and mood and this indicates the same.

There are various kinds of antidepressant drugs. And each antidepressant drug interacts with the neurotransmitters in various ways. They alter the rate of formation of neurotransmitter as well as the rate of breakdown of neurotransmitters. The antidepressant drugs also work by blocking the process via which the neurotransmitters get recycle and then reused. Several antidepressant drugs block the process of re- absorption of the neurotransmitters into nerve cells. They also leave some neurotransmitters available in order to trigger the activity among the nerve cells while some antidepressant drugs interfere with binding of the neurotransmitters to their neighbouring nerve cells. This makes the neurotransmitters available for the various bodily functions.

MAO inhibitors are apt for helping out the smokers to successfully come out of the habit of smoking. MAO inhibitors bring down the rate of the breakdown of the neurotransmitters by the body. This makes the neurotransmitters available for the interaction with neurons or nerve cells.

In the United States of America, the antidepressant drugs with MAO inhibitors such as tranylcypromine and phenelzine can be obtained by prescription. The mental health professionals give MAO inhibitors on prescription when the condition of the person is very critical.

In order to regulate the disturbed levels of serotonin, the person must take serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like venlafaxine. The most common drug in this category is bupropion. Bupropion is sold as Wellbutrin.

Taking antidepressant drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms is important. Stop smoking antidepressant drugs are apt in this condition because they help to iron out the withdrawal symptoms. They help the smoker to stick to the decision of quitting smoking and staying focussed. This keeps the person determined towards his goal of quitting cigarette smoking. When the person is past the withdrawal phase, the person is advised to discontinue the antidepressant drugs.