Stop smoking aids
Quitting aids can help you stop smoking and ease cravings.
Quitting aids and treatments are easy to buy from shops, pharmacies and on prescription.
These can help you stop smoking by reducing withdrawal symptoms and keeping your mind off smoking.
These reduce withdrawal symptoms and keep your mind off smoking.
Quitting aids are best if used alongside support from a friendly local stop smoking service.
Ask your stop smoking advisor or pharmacist for advice.
Stop smoking aids include:
- nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as patches, sprays, gum and lozenges
- nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes)
- prescription-only medicines (varenicline, cytisinicline or bupropion)
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
Most people smoke because they are addicted to nicotine. This is because tobacco and cigarettes are designed to increase nicotine addiction to keep you smoking. This means that you can feel stressed and anxious if you haven’t had a cigarette in a while.
NRT gives you enough nicotine to stop cravings in a way that you are unlikely to become addicted to. The great thing about NRT is that it does not contain any of the dangerous chemicals and toxins in tobacco smoke, like tar.
NRT is available from anywhere that provides a stop smoking service, it can also be bought from pharmacies and shops. It’s available as:
- skin patches – these release nicotine slowly. Some are worn all the time and should be taken off at night.
- nicotine chewing gum
- inhalators (which look like plastic cigarettes)
- tablets, oral strips and lozenges
- nasal and mouth spray
The best way to use NRT is to use two products, combining a long-lasting patch with a faster-acting product such as gum, inhaler or spray. An advisor or pharmacist can talk you through the best combination for yourself.
Most people normally use NRT for around 8-12 weeks, before gradually reducing the dose and eventually stopping. But some people will use NRT for much longer – the main thing is not smoking tobacco!
Treatment with NRT usually lasts 8-12 weeks, before you gradually reduce the dose and eventually stop. But some people use NRT much longer – the main thing is not smoking tobacco!
Prescription-only medicines
3 main medications are proven to help people quit smoking. These are prescription-only medicines, and do not contain any nicotine but they can help manage withdrawal symptoms and make quitting so much easier:
- varenicline (formally available as Champix)
- cytisineicline (a naturally occurring medicine similar to varenicline)
- bupropion (brand name Zyban)
Varenicline and cytisinicline are two of the most effective stop smoking aids available. These work by blocking nicotine’s effects in your brain, making smoking less enjoyable and reducing cravings.
As of 1st August 2025, varenicline is available in all Stop Smoking Services in the North East either through prescription or through a PGD supply service.
Speak to a stop smoking adviser or your doctor about availability.
Vaping
Nicotine vaping is one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking and is substantially less harmful than smoking tobacco. In the North East over 125,000 people have quit smoking using vapes.
There are many different types of vapes available and costs can vary, but generally they’re much cheaper than cigarettes. You can find out about the different types and what might work best for yourself by talking to a stop smoking advisor or by visiting your local vape shop.
Vaping is not recommended for non-smokers and young people because it is not completely risk-free. But if you are a tobacco smoker considering switching, it could be right for you and will almost certainly reduce your risks of cancer, COPD and a number of serious smoking-caused diseases.
Vapes are most effective if used with support from a stop smoking advisor. All of the stop smoking services in the North East are vape friendly and can provide you with a free vape starter kit. Find your local Stop Smoking Service.
Visit our page on vaping for all your question answered