The Program | The Medicines | The Support
The Program
What you receive
To ensure our program will work for you, we’ll determine whether any contra-indications exist between your current medications, physical condition, and your smoking history.
Your initial visit includes:
- Video presentations
- Medical questionnaire
- EKG
- Lung function test
- Medical consultation
- Medications to block cravings
Normal side effects may last 4-12 hours and include:
- Dry mouth
- Light headedness
- Difficulty urinating
- Slightly blurred vision**
Follow up includes:
- Nicotine blocking medications
- Take-home Cut Out Smoking booklet with behavioral strategies
- Four weeks with the Cut Out Smoking Support Group
**Someone to drive you home is required.
The Medicines
How they work
The FDA approved medicines atropine and scopolamine block nicotine receptor sites, preventing withdrawal messages from reaching your brain—similar to the way lidocaine blocks pain messages when you are at the dentist.
Follow-up nicotine blocking medications prevent withdrawal symptoms for two weeks while your body flushes out the nicotine and your brain returns to a non-smoking state.
The Support
What you need
Since nicotine influences the memory and pleasure centers of your brain, the strong emotional, or psychological, side to quitting smoking must be addressed. In the Cut Out Smoking Program, we provide a four week support group. You’ll meet with others—just like you—who are also trying to quit as well as a professional counselor experienced in the coping behaviors that help people stop smoking—once and for all.
Call 888-884-8897 today for an appointment.
Please visit our web site, www.cutoutsmoking.com for more information or contact one of our program providers at 925-277-1100:
Steven M. Peterson, LCSW, CADCIII
Director of Behavioral Health Services
[email protected]
Ann Tepperman, MSW
Lead Therapist
[email protected]