There are many treatment options available to help you quit smoking. Most are readily available without needing to see a doctor. You should always seek advice from a registered healthcare professional to determine which therapy or therapies are most suited to your needs.
Nicotine patch: The over-the-counter patch is placed directly on your skin to release a low, steady amount of nicotine over time.
Nicotine gum: You can buy over-the-counter nicotine replacement gum. It comes in 2mg and 4mg strengths and you get the nicotine immediately through the mucous membranes in your mouth when you chew it.
Nicotine lozenges: Like gum, nicotine lozenges are available over the counter. You suck on them and the nicotine is released slowly. They’re meant to dissolve eventually like hard candies.
Counselling: Some smokers may find it useful to speak with a professional counsellor or psychologist about their smoking, to help them better understand the impact that smoking is having on their life. Counselling is often a good first step toward quitting.
Hypnotherapy: Hypnosis involves the altered state of awareness in which you appear to be asleep or in a trance. During hypnosis for smoking cessation, a patient is often asked to imagine unpleasant outcomes from smoking. Hypnosis, in general, does not work for everyone and studies on its use to aid smoking cessation are mixed. You should seek advice before commencing hypnotherapy.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture involves targeting certain areas of the body for certain conditions. When it comes to helping smokers quit, pressure points in the ears are especially effective in suppressing cravings.
For more information about how to quit smoking, please visit Quit and the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association for additional resources
Smartstop products are not registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and can only be prescribed through the Special Access Scheme (SAS), the Authorised Prescriber Scheme (AP) or by Clinical Trial as they are unapproved therapeutic goods. Unapproved therapeutic goods have not been evaluated for quality, safety, efficacy or performance. Therefore, the prescribing health practitioner must consider the available evidence to support the use of the unapproved product and any potential risks for the individual patient. The responsibilities of the prescribing health practitioner include adhering to relevant standards of the goods medical practice and obtaining informed consent. The long-term health risks of unapproved products, even those that comply with TGO 110, are still unclear. Patients can also call Quitline 13 78 48 or visit the Quit Now website. Smartstop is a pharmacy marketing group on behalf of Amcal Pharmacy Prahran.
