The Complete Guide to Pharmacy Vapes for Australian Smokers

• Recent media coverage has focused on youth vaping, but less attention has been given to high-quality responsible vapes available at pharmacies for adults quitting smoking.

Unlike potentially dangerous,  illegal ‘recreational’ vapes, pharmacy vapes are designed for smoking cessation. They are rigorously tested for safety, locally insured, and trusted by doctors as a useful tool for quitting smoking.

The latest Cochrane Review (2024) has found high-certainty evidence that nicotine vapes are more effective than traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in helping people quit smoking.

This article explores pharmacy vapes in Australia, their safety, how they differ from illegal products, and how to get a nicotine prescription.

What Are Pharmacy Vapes and What Sets Them Apart?

Pharmacy vapes consist of three main parts:

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• The device (battery)
• The cartridge
• The nicotine liquid

Cartridges come pre-filled with a specially formulated and tested nicotine liquid that slots into the top of the device. With no buttons or settings, their operation is straightforward.

Remember that while pharmacy vapes may look similar to some of the illicit products available at vape shops, the similarities end there.

Made To Pharmaceutical Standards

Unlike illicit vapes, medical vaping products available in pharmacies are provided exclusively by Australian-registered suppliers and are manufactured in strict quality-controlled environments with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, much like other trusted medicines.

Tested For Inhalation Safety

Unlike illicit vapes, medical vaping products are specifically designed with your quit journey in mind, rather than quick profits.

The vapes you will find in a pharmacy have undergone extensive testing and analysis to ensure they are suitable for human use:

1. The ingredients in the eliquid are ‘characterised‘—this means that each individual compound is identified.
2. Each of these compounds is assessed by expert toxicologists.
3. The eliquid is tested with the vaping device.
4. The vapour is tested for harmful or potentially harmful compounds.

This type of testing and analysis is not done on illicit vaping products, which is the biggest difference between pharmacy vapes and those under the counter at the corner store.

Locally Insured

Unlike illicit vapes, medical vaping products meet all requirements for supply to registered Australian pharmacies. Like all other pharmaceutical products, these products are also covered by local product liability insurance, providing essential reassurance for you, your doctor, and your pharmacist.

Medically Supported

Medical vaping products are gaining support from the local medical community due to their effectiveness in helping smokers quit the habit. Importantly, you’ll also receive ongoing one-on-one support from both your prescribing GP and local pharmacist, who can provide actionable guidance and increase your chances of quitting smoking permanently.

How Do Pharmacy Vapes Work?

Pharmacy vapes deliver a dose of nicotine to satisfy cravings and withdrawals without exposing you to harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, over 70 of which are known to cause, initiate or promote cancer.

Medical NVPs mimic the hand-to-mouth action and inhalation of smoking, helping you replace cigarettes during routine moments like morning coffee or social drinks. This substitution may make it easier for you to cease smoking immediately and then remove nicotine from your life altogether.

Safety Risks of Illicit Vapes

You may still be wondering “Are illicit vapes really that bad?”. The short answer is yes — with unapproved nicotine vapes, you simply don’t know what you’re inhaling. They lack transparency on ingredients and production environments.

Secondly, they are imported without any checks on their overseas sellers, similar to illicit tobacco and drugs. When you buy illicit Nicotine Vaping Products (NVPs), there are also no tests or assurances carried out to check that the devices and liquids aren’t introducing dangerous chemicals and heavy metals into your lungs.

This means you may be exposing yourself to the same dangers as lighting a cigarette, or perhaps even worse.

Let’s examine each issue with illicit NVPs in more detail.

Lack of Manufacturing Standards

If you ask a convenience store about the ingredient quality and testing results of their illicit NVPs, they won’t have an answer. With the extremely low wholesale cost of these products, many are made with cheap ingredients and in unhygienic environments prone to contamination.

A product with poor ingredients and manufacturing can also contain dangerous heavy metals like lead and nickel, which will enter your lungs with every puff.

Not Focused on Your Health

Anything illegal is unregulated and a potential danger to you, and parties selling and distributing these illicit products simply don’t care about the long-term health risks or your quitting journey.

Illicit NVP manufacturers prioritise profits over safety, exposing users to harmful chemicals and heavy metals. Driven by declining cigarette sales, they use aggressive marketing and eye-catching packaging to boost sales.

Hazardous Chemicals And Heavy Metals

Illicit NVPs contain dangerous amounts of lead, nickel, and other prohibited and hazardous chemicals.

Concerned that you’re inhaling tar with each cigarette? Vaping lead and nickel certainly isn’t safe either.

How Much Do Pharmacy Vapes Cost?

Therapeutic vapes you can buy from pharmacies cost significantly less than what you’d pay for a pack of cigarettes. 

Today, a pack of cigarettes can cost you about $40 per 20-pack, setting a pack-a-day smoker back around $14,000 every year.

Pharmacy vapes only cost about $10 to $13 per cartridge – which is roughly equal to around 20 cigarettes in terms of ‘puffs’ – helping a pack-a-day smoker save up to $12,500 a year. 

But price isn’t the only cost. Every pack of cigarettes you smoke takes nearly 2 hours off your life expectancy.

Use our calculator to see how much your smoking is costing you. You can also read our blog to see how much money you could save by quitting.

How Can I Access Pharmacy Vapes in Australia?

Nicotine is a Schedule 4 medicine in Australia, so you need a valid prescription from a doctor to access nicotine vaping products. Remember, NVPs might only be effective if you’re highly motivated to quit, but a GP’s tailor-made plan suited to your needs will help.

Prescribing NVPs is at the GP’s discretion, based on your progress with NRTs.

How to Get a Prescription to Buy Vapes from a Pharmacy

Here’s the process for getting a prescription to buy pharmacy vapes:

Go Through First-Line Solutions First

One requirement to access NVPs is that you’ve already tried and failed to quit smoking with a first-line treatment, such as NRT products.

NRT products (like patches and gums) are the most trusted quitting option available for motivated smokers. They might not imitate cigarettes, but they contain a small dose of nicotine that may be enough to alleviate your withdrawals.

While NRTs can be effective, they don’t work for everyone. If these haven’t worked for you, you may now be eligible for a nicotine prescription.

Chat to a GP

As mentioned, NRT products have worked for many successful ex-smokers. However, some ingrained behaviours and triggers might only be addressed by something that mimics a cigarette, like the hand-to-mouth motion or having something to use while drinking with friends.

If your GP deems it necessary, they can write you a prescription for nicotine vapes.

You can chat to your usual GP about this, or book a phone chat with an authorised prescriber of nicotine.

Once you have your nicotine prescription, visit your local pharmacy. Both your pharmacist and GP can guide you on product use, including initial setup and the number of puffs to take during feelings of withdrawal.

Which Pharmacy Sells Vapes?

Wondering which pharmacies sell vapes?

More than 2,500 pharmacies in Australia currently stock medical NVPs, including Chemist Warehouse, TerryWhite Chemmart, Priceline Pharmacy, Cincotta Chemist, Wizard Pharmacy, and many more. 

If your local pharmacy does not yet stock these vape products, they can order these in for you and keep stock on hand to suit your ongoing requirements. Have a chat with your local pharmacy to organise this.

Ready to Quit Smoking? Get Started With Smokefree Clinic 

With pharmacy vapes, you can trust that what you’re inhaling is rigorously tested, locally insured, and designed to aid your quit journey with medical support.

Smokefree Clinic offers medically reviewed, trustworthy resources to help you on your path to wellness. If you’re ready to start, we can connect you with Australian healthcare professionals who specialise in helping patients quit smoking for good.

Explore our resources and take the first step towards a healthier, smoke-free life.

Resources and Links:

• https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub8/full
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34519354/
• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10985973/How-favourite-Aussie-vape-Video-inside-HQD-factory-Shenzhen-China.html
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65614078
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1117323/