Stop Smoking Aids

The main harm from smoking is caused by the carbon monoxide and the harmful chemicals present in tar and tobacco smoke. Tobacco also contains Nicotine, which is in fact relatively harmless, but it is also very addictive.

Very soon after stopping smoking, your body starts to miss the nicotine that it was used to getting from cigarettes and you start to get urges to smoke and feel common withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, low mood, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite and poor sleep.

Nicotine replacement products provide you with a low level of nicotine, without the thousands of life-threatening chemicals and tar that are in tobacco. This means that they give you the relief you need and can help you to quit smoking for good. These products are sometimes called ‘NRT’ products, short for nicotine replacement therapy. They are a useful stop smoking quit aid, that you can get from stop smoking services or your GP, or you can buy them in pharmacies and supermarkets.

There are several products for you to choose from, including patches, gums, lozenges and sprays. They all deliver the nicotine in slightly different ways but all make it easier on you and your body to overcome the cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Using two different types of NRT (usually the patch and one of the faster acting products) is often advised.

You can find out more about Nicotine Replacement Therapy here.

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 service means that you are three times more likely to successfully quit smoking.

These products are usually only available on prescription from your GP, but many stop smoking services are able to arrange this with your GP on your behalf. Some pharmacists are also authorized to prescribe these medications to you.

Prescribed medications work in slightly different ways, but they generally work to make reduce your urges to smoke, and make smoking less enjoyable. Unlike NRT, you would usually start taking these products before your quit day (which is your first day of not smoking) to allow the dose of the medication to build up in your body first.

The are three prescription medications available in the UK to help you to stop smoking. These are

• Varenicline
• Cytisine
• Zyban (Buproprion)

Not everyone can take prescribed medications, and there are some side effects that you may experience, so it is important to speak to your GP or stop smoking advisor to find out if you are suitable for these medications.

You can find out more about these prescribed medications here

A vape (also known as an E-cigarette) is a battery powered device that heats a solution called e-liquid or juice that contains nicotine, a mix of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, and flavours commonly found in food.

This allows you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke. It’s a cleaner and safer way to get the nicotine ‘hit’ that you usually get from cigarettes.

Vaping can help you replace smoking – both the addiction and the habit. They are a great tool for smokers looking to quit tobacco and evidence shows that vapes are significantly safer than smoking. Making the switch from smoking to vaping reduces your likelihood of developing cancer and other diseases significantly.

However, vapes are not without risks and so it is not recommended that non-smokers, or young people, take up vaping. It is a tool to help smokers during their quit attempt and to stay smoke free.

Combining vaping with other NRT products such as patches or gum can also increase your chances of quitting smoking.

You can find out more about vapes here: