Cold turkey
Only 3-5% of people who go cold turkey as a quitting technique successfully quit smoking for at least 12 months. If you've tried to quit smoking on your own in the past, don't worry: most people make up to 7 attempts to outsmart cigarettes before they finally succeed. To increase your chances of outsmarting cigarettes, ask your doctor or pharmacist about prescription quitting treatments that can help.
Complementary quitting treatments
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy, in which very fine needles are used to stimulate specific parts of the body. Research has found that acupuncture may be better than using no treatment at all, but, overall, there is no definite evidence that it's beneficial in smoking cessation. Hypnotherapy
Some people have found hypnosis useful when quitting smoking; however, so far, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that hypnotherapy can outsmart cigarettes in the long-term. Counselling/advice
Talking to your doctor or a counsellor can improve your chances of outsmarting cigarettes. Combining support with medicines that help you stop smoking has been shown to improve your quitting chances even more.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy, in which very fine needles are used to stimulate specific parts of the body. Research has found that acupuncture may be better than using no treatment at all, but, overall, there is no definite evidence that it's beneficial in smoking cessation. Hypnotherapy
Some people have found hypnosis useful when quitting smoking; however, so far, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that hypnotherapy can outsmart cigarettes in the long-term. Counselling/advice
Talking to your doctor or a counsellor can improve your chances of outsmarting cigarettes. Combining support with medicines that help you stop smoking has been shown to improve your quitting chances even more.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (e.g. Nicorette®, Nicabate®, QuitX®)
NRT delivers nicotine without all the other components of cigarettes. There are different types of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products available, depending on your preference. These include patches, inhalers, lozenges, gum, and microtabs which dissolve under the tongue. NRT has been shown to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking. NRTs are available without a prescription. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if this treatment is right for you.
Prescription tablets
Varenicline (Champix®)
Champix is a non-nicotine tablet specifically designed as a stop-smoking treatment. It works in the brain, helping to reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting, while also reducing the pleasure you get if you smoke a cigarette while you're taking the tablet. Champix is available only on prescription so ask your doctor or pharmacist if it's right for you. Bupropion (e.g. Zyban SR®, Clorprax®, Prexaton®, Bupropion-RL®)
Bupropion is a non-nicotine tablet that was originally developed as an antidepressant and was found to help people quit smoking. It works in the brain and has been shown to reduce cravings and nicotine withdrawal symptoms while you're quitting. Bupropion is available only on prescription so ask your doctor or pharmacist if it's right for you.
® All registered trademarks acknowledged.
Champix is a non-nicotine tablet specifically designed as a stop-smoking treatment. It works in the brain, helping to reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting, while also reducing the pleasure you get if you smoke a cigarette while you're taking the tablet. Champix is available only on prescription so ask your doctor or pharmacist if it's right for you. Bupropion (e.g. Zyban SR®, Clorprax®, Prexaton®, Bupropion-RL®)
Bupropion is a non-nicotine tablet that was originally developed as an antidepressant and was found to help people quit smoking. It works in the brain and has been shown to reduce cravings and nicotine withdrawal symptoms while you're quitting. Bupropion is available only on prescription so ask your doctor or pharmacist if it's right for you.
® All registered trademarks acknowledged.
