Smoking — Quit Help, Meds, and Practical Tips

Smoking changes a lot more than your lungs. It affects energy, skin, mood, and how some medicines work. If you're thinking about quitting or just want to cut down, this page gives straightforward steps, real options for treatment, and things to watch for with other drugs.

Quick steps that actually help

Pick a quit date within two weeks — not months. Remove ashtrays, lighters, and cigarettes from your home and car before that day. Tell friends and family you’re quitting and ask for one specific type of support, like text check-ins or no-smoking visits for two weeks.

Use short, practical tricks when cravings hit: chew sugar-free gum, take three slow deep breaths, walk 5–10 minutes, or sip a glass of water. Cravings usually peak in 3–5 minutes and fade. Have a list of 3 distraction moves ready for that window.

Combine strategies. Many people do best with a behavioral plan plus a quit aid. Don’t rely on willpower alone — make a simple plan and use tools that reduce withdrawal.

Medications and how they work

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) — patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers — replaces nicotine to ease withdrawal. Patches give steady nicotine all day; gum and lozenges help with sudden cravings. Using a patch plus gum or lozenge when you need it often works better than a single product.

Bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) are prescription options. Bupropion can help with mood and cravings; common side effects include insomnia and dry mouth. Varenicline lowers pleasure from smoking and cuts cravings; nausea and vivid dreams can happen. Both need a prescription and a quick chat with your doctor before you start.

Think about timing: start NRT on your quit day, but bupropion and varenicline are usually started a week before quitting to build effect. If you smoke heavily, combination NRT (patch + gum) or varenicline often gives the best results.

One drug detail many miss: smoking changes how the body handles certain medicines. Smoke chemicals boost an enzyme called CYP1A2. That can lower levels of drugs like clozapine, olanzapine, and theophylline. When you stop smoking, their blood levels can rise — so tell your prescriber you’re quitting so doses can be checked.

Vaping and e-cigarettes: they can be less toxic than smoking but aren’t harmless. If you use them to quit, aim to taper and stop the nicotine entirely rather than switch permanently, especially if you never smoked before.

If quitting feels too hard alone, use free resources: national quitlines, text programs, or smartphone apps with craving timers and daily tips. Your pharmacist can help pick the right NRT and review drug interactions. Small steps add up — a smoke-free day, then a smoke-free week, then more.

Want a specific plan? Ask your pharmacist for a combination NRT starter plan or set a telehealth visit to discuss bupropion vs varenicline. You don’t have to do it perfectly — just pick one workable change and stick with it for a week.