Nicotine dependence treatment: what to know

A useful plan starts by identifying your nicotine products, amount and timing, previous attempts, triggers and health conditions. Treatment may involve behavioural counselling, nicotine replacement or a prescription medicine; suitability depends on your medical history, pregnancy status, other medicines and preferences.

Withdrawal can include cravings, irritability, restlessness, low mood or trouble concentrating. These experiences are common reasons people return to nicotine, so planning for them is part of treatment rather than a sign that treatment has failed.

Choose a change date or a gradual reduction plan with clinical support. Remove products, tell supportive people what help you need, and prepare substitutes for routines such as after meals or during work breaks. Follow instructions for any medicine or nicotine replacement and report troublesome effects.

A Smoking Cessation Programme can provide structured coaching and follow-up. Mention a chronic cough, breathing problem or circulation symptom so your clinician can consider the whole picture.

Contact your clinician if cravings remain difficult, you return to regular use, or treatment causes symptoms you cannot manage. Seek urgent help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, coughing blood, or sudden weakness or numbness affecting one side of the body.

Which treatment fits my nicotine products and health history? How will we manage withdrawal? What follow-up will help if I lapse?