Prescription medications for quitting smoking
How can prescribed medications help you quit smoking?
Prescription medication for quitting smoking
When it comes to stopping smoking, there are several treatments available on prescription to help you beat your addiction and reduce your withdrawal symptoms.
Research shows that combining these medications with behavioural support from a stop smoking advisors means that you are three times more likely to successfully quit smoking.
You should consider your personal preferences, lifestyle and medical history when choosing your quit smoking treatment.
Prescribed medication options
There are several treatments available on prescription to help you beat your addiction and reduce your withdrawal symptoms. Find out more about there here.
What is Varenicline?
Varenicline is an oral tablet that helps you to stop smoking by helping to reduce your urge to smoke. It eases nicotine withdrawal symptoms and makes your cravings easier to manage. If you do smoke a cigarette, it will also make the experience less enjoyable by altering the taste.
Varenicline has been used widely across the UK to help smokers quit for many years. Evidence suggests it’s the most effective medicine for helping people to stop smoking.
You take Varenicline 1 to 2 times a day and typically start taking it 8-14 days before you begin a quit attempt.
Is Varenicline the same as Champix?
Varenicline was previously available under the brand name Champix. It is the same medication that contains the same active ingredients and doses as the branded version. Varenicline meets all the same standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
The tablets may look slightly different from the branded version as they are made by different companies. Learn more about the difference between branded and generic medicines here.
How does Varenicline work?
Varenicline works in two ways to help you stop smoking. When taken, Varenicline blocks nicotine – the chemical commonly found in tobacco products – from reaching receptors in your brain. This means that if you smoke while taking varenicline, you don’t get the same enjoyment from the cigarette as you would normally. This helps to stop the rewarding and re-enforcing psychological effect that nicotine has on the body when smoking.
The second way that varenicline works is to act in place of nicotine to help make the withdrawal symptoms and cravings easier to manage during your quit journey.
How do I take Varenicline?
You start taking Varenicline before your quit day, so most people find that they are smoking less by the time that day comes. Varenicline tablets are initially taken once a day, building up to twice a day from day 5. They are taken in the morning and the evening.
You set your quit day typically 8-14 days after starting treatment. You will continue the course of medication for 12 weeks but can be taken for longer if needed. You should consult your stop smoking advisor first. It’s really important to take the full course to allow the drug to work and give yourself the best chance of quitting.
Most people are usually able to take Varenicline. However, it is not recommended:
• If you are under 18 years of age.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have severe kidney problems.
Like all medications, there can be some possible side effects. The most common symptoms are:
• Nausea (this can be worse if you take the tablet on an empty stomach).
• Vivid dreams.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Headaches.
Where can I get Varenicline?
Varenicline is available on prescription. Your local stop smoking service will be able to arrange this from your GP for you. You can also get Varenicline from authorised pharmacists.
Although Varenicline has been unavailable for some time in the UK, it now available again but there may be some delays the rollout of this in your area.
What is Cytisine?
Cytisine is an oral tablet that helps you to stop smoking by helping to reduce the urge to smoke and helping to make nicotine withdrawal symptoms easier to manage. It works in a similar way to varenicline.
Although Cytisine is new to the UK, it has been used for many years in other parts of Europe, where it is commonly known by the brand name Tabex. You may also see it called Cytisinicline – its medical name.
How does Cytisine work?
Like Varenicline, Cytisine blocks receptors in the brain from reacting with nicotine. This means that when you smoke, you don’t experience the same taste or sensation as normal.
Cytisine acts in place of nicotine to help make the withdrawal symptoms and cravings easier to manage – reducing your cravings to smoke a cigarette and making it much easier to cope after your quit day.
How do I take Cytisine?
A course of Cytisine tablets usually lasts for 25 days. They are initially taken 6 times a day during the first 3 days before gradually reducing the number until the final week where it is taken twice a day. You set your quit day no later than 5 days after starting the treatment of Cytisine.
As with other prescribed stop smoking medications, it’s important to take the full course to allow the drug to work and give yourself the best chance of quitting.
Most people are usually able to take Cytisine. However, it is not recommended:
• If you are under 18 years of age.
• Over the age of 65 years.
• If you have Kidney impairment.
• If you have a Liver impairment.
You should not take Cytisine if you:
• Have unstable angina (chest pain caused by reduced blood supply to the heart).
• Had recent myocardial infarction (heart attack).
• Clinically significant arrhythmias (irregular or abnormal heart rhythm).
• Had a recent stroke.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You can take Cytisine with caution if you have several other medical conditions, so it is important to speak to your GP to find out if Cytisine is suitable for you.
Like all medications there can be some possible side effects, however these may not affect everyone. The most common ones are:
• Changes in appetite (usually an increase)
• Dizziness
• Mood changes
• Sleep problems
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Slow heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhoea
• Sickness
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Muscle pain
Where can I get Cytisine?
Cytisine is available on prescription. Your local stop smoking service may be able to arrange this from your GP for you. You will also be able to get Cytisine from authorised pharmacists.
Although Cytisine is now available in the UK, there may be some delays in the rollout of this in your area.
What is Bupropion?
Bupropion (brand name Zyban) is an oral tablet originally used to treat depression, but it has since been found to help people quit smoking NHS.
It has been available as a stop smoking medication for approximately 18 years, with studies showing that it has approximately double the chance of helping you quit smoking for good. Zyban has some side effects associated with it, and because of this, it is not suitable for some people.
How does Bupropion work?
Bupropion works by reducing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms – helping you to manage feelings of irritability, reducing disturbed sleep and increasing your appetite.
While stop smoking medications won’t take away the thought of cigarettes completely, your motivation, plus the use of the other quit tools found on our website can make it much more likely you will stop smoking for good.
How do I take Bupropion?
You will begin taking Bupropion 1-2 weeks before your quit date. This is to give the medication a chance to start working within your system.
It is initially taken once a day, increasing to twice a day from day seven. A course of Bupropion lasts for up to 9 weeks. As with other prescribed stop smoking medications it’s important to take the full course to allow the drug to work and give yourself the best chance of quitting.
Most people can take Bupropion but it is not recommended if you:
• Are under 18 years old
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have epilepsy, bipolar disorder or an eating disorder
There are also several medical conditions and situations where you should not take Bupropion, so it is important to speak to your GP first to find out if Bupropion is suitable for you.
Like all medications there can be some possible side effects. The most common ones are:
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Headaches
• Feeling and being sick
• Constipation
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
Where can I get Bupropion?
Bupropion is available on prescription. Your local stop smoking service may be able to arrange this from your GP for you. You will also be able to get Bupropion from authorised pharmacists.
Take the first step and get support to quit smoking
You don’t have to rely on one method to help you quit smoking.
Evidence shows that you are 3 times more likely to quit smoking by combining behavioural support from a stop smoking advisor with your stop smoking medication, although prescribed medications are not licenced to be used alongside other stop smoking treatments such as such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or vapes.
You can find your local stop smoking service here
You will be able to discuss the different options with your stop smoking advisors who will be able to work out what is right for you and produce a plan tailored to your personal preferences, medical history and lifestyle. You should also talk to your GP to find out if you are suitable for these prescribed medications.
Make an appointment with your GP or local stop smoking service to get started.
Looking for more information on prescribed medications?
The NHS website has lots of information about stop smoking medication and other treatments to help you quit smoking.
Combine with other tools
Vapes
Vapes can help you avoid nicotine withdrawal and are significantly less harmful than continuing to smoke.
Daily Text Messages
Our free text message service can give you additional support tailored to your reason for quitting
Nicotine replacement products
Prescribed medications not for you? Nicotine replacement therapy can help you beat withdrawal symptoms safely.
