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Quit with nicotine-free medicines

Nicotine-free medicines are less well known than other stop smoking products, but they are an incredibly effective way to help you stop smoking.

Understanding the effects of nicotine

Nicotine is a drug that changes how your brain works. It makes you want it more the longer you smoke. Over time, your brain becomes dependent on nicotine to feel normal, which is why quitting can be so hard.

When you stop you may struggle with cravings. You may feel irritated, and have trouble concentrating, which can feel overwhelming. These are called nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Nicotine-free medicines can help. Most work by blocking the effects of nicotine in your brain to make quitting easier.

Nicotine-free medicines

There are 3 main medicines that are proven to help people quit smoking. They do not contain nicotine.

You'll need a prescription from a GP to get these medicines or they can be prescribed by a healthcare professional at some local Stop Smoking Services.

Varenicline

Varenicline, formerly available as Champix, helps you quit by blocking nicotine’s effects in your brain.

Normally, nicotine gives you a feeling of pleasure, making you want to smoke more. Varenicline stops this, making smoking less enjoyable and reducing cravings. It also helps with withdrawal symptoms, making quitting easier.

Cytisine

Cytisine is a medicine that comes from plants. It works just like varenicline, by blocking nicotine's effects in your brain, which helps to make smoking less enjoyable and reduce cravings.

Cytisine is new to the UK but has been used for many years in some countries to help people quit smoking.

Bupropion

Bupropion, sometimes called Zyban, works by changing chemicals in your brain to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Bupropion was originally used as an antidepressant, but doctors found it also works well for stopping smoking.

Did you know?

Varenicline is now available again in the UK, along with a new medicine called cytisine. Both are powerful tools to help you quit smoking for good.

Powerful combinations to quit for good

Nicotine-free medicines like varenicline and cytisine are effective alone, but research shows combining them with nicotine products, like vapes or patches, offers the best chance of success.

Nicotine-free medicines help retrain your brain. They reduce the pleasure you get from smoking, while patches and vapes take the edge off withdrawal. Together, this combination makes you over 5 times more likely to quit for good!

Discover the best combination of stop smoking products for you.

Did you know?

Nicotine is what makes smoking so addictive, but it is not what causes the most damage to your health. The other harmful chemicals in cigarettes are far worse.

Speak to a GP or local Stop Smoking Service

Quitting smoking can be tough, but the good news is that there are tools to help!

Using nicotine-free medicines give you a much better chance of success, especially when combined with nicotine products.

Don't rely on willpower alone. Get the help you need and increase your chances of quitting for good.

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Nicotine replacement therapies

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) can ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms by providing your body with a lower dose of nicotine. Explore the different types of NRTs in our guide.