HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Medicines that help you quit
Your GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or stop-smoking provider can help you to find what medicines might help you quit smoking. There are two sorts of stop-smoking medicines – those that contain nicotine (called nicotine replacement therapy, or NRT), and those that do not contain nicotine.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Using NRT for eight to 12 weeks can double your chances of quitting. It comes in three forms, and Quitline has videos explaining How to use gum, How to use lozenges, and How to use patches. These all reduce your cravings for a cigarette, without damaging your health. They work by replacing some of the nicotine you usually get from cigarettes or other forms of tobacco.
You can get subsidised products for $5 (or sometimes free) if you are assessed and ask your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or Quitline to provide them for you. Or you can buy unsubsidised products directly from your pharmacy.
Nicotine-free medicines
Other prescription medicines that do not contain nicotine might also help you to quit smoking. The three available in New Zealand are called Champix (varenicline), Zyban (bupropion), and nortriptyline.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Medsafe – Varenicline
This consumer information sheet outlines how varenicline (Champix) works, what you need to know before you take it, how to take it, and possible side effects.
- Patient.info – Zyban
This British website explains nicotine addiction, how Zyban works to help quit smoking, how effective it is and possible side effects.
- Quitline – Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges
This page includes videos explaining the different forms of NRT.
On the next page: Second-hand smoke
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page created July 2016. Last updated January 2019.
Review key: HIBSF-16604
