Stop Smoking Drugs and Products That Work

There are ways to stop that have "an evidence base" (that is, they are shown by studies to definitely make a difference, with a good idea of how they make the difference). The NHS uses these methods. Three drugs that have been shown to work are available on the NHS. They are Nicotine Replacement (NRT), Bupropion (Zyban) and Varenicline (Champix).

It is very likely that the NHS or your GP will only provide these drugs if you sign up to a stop smoking programme. Depending on the doctor or local stop smoking service, this may involve regular appointments as well as the drugs at prescription charges. If you don't want to attend these appointments, then your GP may possibly prescribe but may not.

The NHS says that you have up to 4 times better chances of stopping with them (drug plus support) than by going it alone.

If you are not able to, or don't want to, use the NHS services or your doctor, then you can still buy one of the three drugs, nicotine replacement (NRT) over the pharmacy counter (or from shops). You will then pay non-prescription prices.

There are other products sold to help people stop smoking. While individual quitters may feel that they have been helpful for them, there is no evidence at all that these do work. An amazing amount of work, study, and money goes into creating "an evidence base" and it is too easy to sell stuff that doesn't work to smokers who are desperate to stop.

If the product is cheap (e.g. a plastic cigarette with a smokey taste) then it's not the end of the world. But do be careful about being ripped off. Not all pharmacy staff know a lot about smoking and facts on stopping smoking, so you can be sold new products (nicotine hand gels etc) that sound good but have not been tested to see if they work.