Stop smoking
support

Frequently asked questions about stopping smoking

What type of smoking cessation treatment do you offer?

The only smoking cessation treatment that we offer is Champix, this is because it is well known to be a very successful medication available. It can work in 2 different ways to help you to quit: firstly, it reduces your nicotine craving, similar to how nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) works and secondly, it blocks the rewarding and reinforcing effects of smoking.

What are the health risks of smoking?

Smoking is responsible for many serious health problems and long-term terminal illnesses, that could affect you but also the people around you who passively inhale smoke. As many as 50% of smokers will die from a smoking related disease.⁷

Some of the other health conditions that smoking may cause include:

• Cancer of the lungs, throat, mouth, liver, bladder, kidney, stomach and the cervix in women
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Stroke and heart disease
• Stomach ulcers and acid reflux
• Impotence in men
• Infertility
• High blood pressure
• Kidney failure
• Asthma

What are the benefits of quitting smoking

The great news is that you will get some of the health benefits of quitting smoking begin as early as after your first day of quitting⁸

• After 1 day – your pulse rate will return to normal, circulation will start to improve, and your lungs start to clear out smoking debris
• After 48 hours – all traces of nicotine will be removed from your body and your smell and taste will start to improve
• By day 3 – your breathing may feel easier and energy levels may increase
• At 3 months – coughs, wheezing and breathing problems start to improve as lung function increases by up to 10%
• After 1 year – your risk of heart disease is about half compared with a person who is still smoking

What is the best way to quit smoking?

Some people can quit smoking by going ‘cold turkey’. This means that they stop smoking and don’t use any nicotine replacement, prescribed medication or other therapy to ease the withdrawal symptoms. While this technique can work for some, it is notoriously difficult to do and many people find they need some extra support.

You’re three times as likely to quit successfully if you use a combination of stop smoking medicine and specialist help and support such as from your local Stop Smoking Service.⁹ So don’t hesitate if you need extra support to quit smoking; it is a highly addictive habit that can be very difficult to break, especially if you are a heavy smoker or have smoked for a long time.

What options are there to help me quit smoking?

There are many ways to quit smoking and often it will take more than one attempt for you to quit successfully. It is important to find the right support for you. Other methods can include NRT, holistic therapies such as hypnosis or acupuncture, or other prescription treatments. Finding the right approach for you is important when quitting smoking.

How does prescription-only medication help you to quit smoking?

You may find giving up smoking difficult, particularly if you have tried and failed before. In addition to the nicotine cravings, your day-to-day life will be a key factor in the success of giving up and sometimes you may need additional support to aid with the withdrawal process.

Prescription medication can be used to ease the craving to smoke, by reducing the pleasure gained when smoking and by influencing the receptors in the brain that create the cravings. You may double or even quadruple your chance of quitting smoking, compared to those who quit with will power alone, if you use a prescription medication.

Champix is a prescription-only medication that works to stimulate the nicotine receptors in your brain, relieving your cravings and suppressing your withdrawal symptoms. If you start smoking again when on this medication it will suppress the effects of the nicotine.

Will I get nicotine withdrawal symptoms?

The nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive, so when you stop smoking, your body begins to crave more nicotine. You will feel withdrawal symptoms soon after reducing the amount you smoke or quitting altogether.

Typical symptoms include:¹⁰

• An urge to smoke
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness
• Sleep disturbances
• Decreased heart rate
• Increased appetite or weight gain¹⁰

These symptoms can be alleviated by using varenicline (Champix). Over time these symptoms will decrease as you remain smoke-free.

Can I have the odd cigarette while I’m on treatment?

You need to start taking your Champix tablets 1−2 weeks before you quit smoking. When you start your treatment, you will set a quit date, between day 8 and day 14 of treatment. This is the date that you will stop smoking all together.

If you are unable, or unwilling, to give up on your agreed quit date, you can choose an alternative quit date within 5 weeks of starting treatment. Or, you can choose to reduce smoking during the first 12 weeks of treatment and quit by the end of that treatment period. You should then continue to take Champix 1 mg twice daily for a further 12 weeks, resulting in a total of 24 weeks of treatment.

You will find that Champix reduces the enjoyment that you get from smoking. You can discuss treatment schedules with your doctor.

Does taking Champix make it easy to quit?

Champix makes it easier to quit because it reduces the enjoyment that you get from smoking. However, it will still take willpower to kick the habit for good. To make your quit attempt a success get the support of your friends, family and colleagues. Often people who want to quit smoking also decide they want to get healthier, so change their diet and start exercising too. Just be careful that you don’t take on too much at one time and set yourself realistic targets.