Frequently asked questions about smoking cessation treatment
How does medication to stop smoking work?
When you smoke, the nicotine in a cigarette causes the brain to release a hormone that helps regulate mood; it makes you feel happy and is known as the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter.
Medication used for smoking cessation works by blocking this process of nicotine triggering the feeling of pleasure. Medication to stop smoking is at first designed to be taken while you continue to smoke. When you smoke a cigarette while taking the treatment, nicotine is no longer able to cause the release of the 'feel-good' neurotransmitter in the brain, which prevents the happy, reward-like feeling. This reduces the pleasure and enjoyment experienced when smoking, which consequently makes it easier to stop smoking all together.
How do I use the treatment?
The treatment is taken in stages. It starts with a lower dose for the first week, and then increases to the full, continued dosage.
Initially you are expected to carry on smoking while taking the treatment. This is so that you can experience the reduced enjoyment from smoking cigarettes, before stopping entirely.
How long should I take the treatment for?
The treatment comes in two courses. The first course is intended to help you to stop smoking and lasts 12 weeks.
For those who have successfully stopped smoking after the first 12 weeks, a further 12-week course - known as the "maintenance" period - is recommended to maintain total abstinence.
The total treatment time should be 24 weeks.
How effective is it?
While any attempt to quit smoking requires willpower, treatments to stop smoking can also be highly effective. Research reports that people who take smoking cessation treatment are more than three times as likely to quit smoking than those who try to stop using willpower alone.
Is it safe to buy treatment to stop smoking online?
Yes. All our treatments are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and we adhere to the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) to ensure all treatments are legitimate. Our expert pharmacists are each registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and will check your online consultation to make sure the treatment is right for you.