Medications to Help You Quit

When you quit smoking, you may feel strange at first. You may feel dull, tense, and not yourself. These are signs that your body is getting used to life without nicotine. It usually only lasts 1 or 2 weeks.
Many people just can't handle how they feel after they quit. They start smoking again to feel better. Maybe this has happened to you. Most people slip up in the first week after quitting. This is when feelings of withdrawal are strongest.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved medicines to reduce withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. These FDA-approved medicines can help with feelings of withdrawal:

• Nicotine gum
• Nicotine inhaler
• Nicotine tablet
• Nicotine nose spray
• Nicotine skin patch
• Bupropion pills
• Varenicline pills

Using these medicines can double your chances of quitting for good. Ask your doctor for help. But remember: Medicine alone can't do all the work. It can help with cravings and withdrawal, but quitting will still be hard at times.

Medicines with nicotine

Nicotine cessation products—also called nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)—have a little bit of nicotine but not the hundreds of other harmful chemicals that are in cigarettes. NRT helps you handle the physical symptoms of quitting by giving you much less nicotine than a cigarette. This satisfies your nicotine craving and lessens your urge to smoke. You can buy some NRT medicines without a prescription from your doctor. These include a skin patch, gum, or lozenges with nicotine. Nicotine inhalers and nose sprays are available only by prescription. Also see Myths about NRT (PDF).

Medicines without nicotine

Some medicines that help withdrawal symptoms and nicotine cravings don’t have any nicotine. They help by reducing symptoms and smoking urges. A prescription is needed for these kinds of medicines. See your doctor to talk about your medication plan and to get a prescription.