HEALTH NOTES
STOP-SMOKING TREATMENTS
IF YOUR New Year’s resolution is to stop smoking, you have several options available.
But always speak to your GP or an NHS stop-smoking adviser to find the best treatment for you.
■ E-CIGARETTES are electronic devices that deliver nicotine in a vapour.
This allows you to inhale nicotine without most of the harmful effects of smoking as the vapour contains no tar or carbon monoxide.
Research has found that e-cigarettes can help you give up smoking, so you may want to try them rather than the medications listed below.
There are no e-cigarettes currently available on prescription.
But once medicinally licensed e-cigarette products come on to the market, GPs and stop-smoking services will be able to prescribe them.
■ NICOTINE replacement therapy (NRT) provides a low level of nicotine without the tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke.
It can help reduce unpleasant withdrawal effects, such as bad moods and cravings. It’s available as skin patches, chewing gum, inhalators, tablets, oral strips, lozenges, nasal and mouth sprays – available from your pharmacy.
■ VARENICLINE (Champix) works in two ways. It reduces cravings for nicotine and blocks the rewarding and reinforcing effects of smoking.
Evidence suggests it’s the most effective medication for helping people to stop smoking. Available on prescription only.
■ BUPROPION (Zyban) was originally used to treat depression, but it’s since been found to help people quit smoking.
It’s not clear exactly how it works, but it’s thought to have an effect on the parts of the brain involved in addictive behaviour.
Available on prescription only.