Quit Smoking Prescriptions

You know quitting smoking will help you to become healthier. You also know that it’s not easy. Perhaps you’ve tried some strategies to quit before, but you’re back smoking again.

There are a range of smoking cessation approaches, including medications approved by Australian health regulators, that can help you to kick the habit. National and international studies suggest a combination of medications and behavioural support can be effective to help you quit once and for all.

Perhaps you’ve been unsuccessful with a number of quit smoking strategies already (likely more times than you can remember) and find yourself here preparing for another attempt.

Prescribed options can be especially helpful for people who struggle with a higher level of dependence on nicotine. The RACGP’s smoking cessation guidelines note the following as telltale signs of nicotine dependency:

• smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day,
• having an urge to smoke within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning, and/or
• having a history of withdrawal symptoms during previous quit attempts.

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Don’t quit trying to quit, as there are now more options available to help you.

Prescribed Nicotine Vaping Products (INRT)

If you’ve tried quitting smoking using traditional methods and haven’t had much luck, it might be worth looking into nicotine vaping products (NVPs), a type of inhaled nicotine replacement therapy (INRT). 

NVPs, or e-cigarettes prescribed to aid smoking cessation, provide a different approach by mimicking the hand-to-mouth action and sensory experience of smoking. They do this without exposing you to the harmful chemicals produced by burning tobacco.

These vaping products could be a useful option if you’re struggling with other quitting methods. They’re designed to deliver nicotine in a way that can help you transition away from smoking, possibly with less harm than traditional cigarettes.

However, it’s important to note that while pharmacy NVPs are considered a harm-reduction strategy, their long-term health effects are still not fully understood. As they are relatively new, no nicotine vaping product has been officially approved by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) in Australia yet. They are only legally available through a prescription from a qualified doctor.

If you’re using nicotine vaping products regularly or for a long time, have a chat with a healthcare professional who’s registered with the TGA as an authorised prescriber of nicotine.

They can help assess your overall health and suitability for using pharmacy NVPs. Our team of telehealth doctors are here to provide support and information on nicotine vaping products, and to guide you through the process of getting a prescription if needed.

Prescribed Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

Although most NRT products are available as over-the-counter medicines which don’t require a prescription, doctors are able to prescribe some prescription-only formats to certain patients as part of a tailored quit plan. This can provide you with the additional motivation and support you may need throughout your quit journey, and has been found to improve success rates.

Importantly, doctors are able to substantially reduce the cost of certain NRT products for you by prescribing under the government’s subsidised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Nicotine-replacement therapy patches are available via prescription (under the PBS) or in a wide variety of over-the-counter products such as lozenges, patches or gum, or inhalers and mouth sprays.

They can help when your body is dependent on nicotine, the addictive part of tobacco. These medications give your body nicotine in controlled doses and reduce some of your physical withdrawal symptoms.

Quit smoking medications (pharmacotherapy)

Pharmacotherapy is another treatment option available on prescription that you and your doctor may wish to discuss as part of your tailored quit plan.

Unlike NRT options (which are intended to help satisfy your cravings by replacing the Nicotine you previously received from smoking), pharmacotherapy options are designed to reduce the satisfaction you receive from nicotine by affecting your brain chemistry.

There are a few pharmacotherapy options available which your healthcare provider may consider for your treatment.

• Varenicline (brand name Chantix): this acts on the receptors in the brain to reduce withdrawal symptoms and reduce the positive feelings from smoking nicotine.
• Bupropion (brand names Zyban / Wellbutrin / Alpenzin): these are prescription antidepressants that help reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Both medications come in a tablet form.

Although these medications have been proven to assist some people with smoking cessation, like most medications designed to affect your brain chemistry, they can have negative side effects. It’s important that you discuss these carefully with your doctor.

Combination therapy

Some healthcare professionals, based upon their assessment of the patient, may recommend a combination therapy approach. This involves using two different NRT formats in combination to support a smoking cessation attempt.

For example, a doctor may recommend wearing a slow-release product (i.e., a patch) while using a faster-acting product like lozenges, gum, spray or a nicotine e-cigarette to assist with cravings. This has led to better quitting rates in clinical trials. ¹

Another combination approach, for people who have been assessed as clinically suitable for this medication, is to prescribe varenicline (accompanied by behavioural support), together with a nicotine replacement therapy.