Smoking Cessation

NHS Stop Smoking Services

Here’s some information you may not know:

Wherever you live in the United Kingdom, there’s a free local smoking cessation service in your vicinity. (Here’s a full, easy-to-search list of all such services in Northern Ireland.) And each of these stop smoking services are staffed with trained experts, ready and happy to help you.

Murphy’s Chemist is proud to be among them.

We are ready to offer you free advice and support through the whole smoking cessation process.

It’s time to kick cigarettes out of your life for good!

Stop Smoking Treatments

There are at least four different treatments our pharmacists can advise you about at an initial consultation:

• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): a medication releasing low levels of nicotine in your blood; it may come in the form of skin patches, chewing gum, inhalators, tablets, lozenges, or nasal and mouth sprays; most people can use NRT, including pregnant women.
• Varenicline (brand name: Champix): possibly the most effetive medication; just like NRT, it reduces nicotine cravings, but it also blocks the rewarding effects of smoking; however, it’s not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Bupropion (brand name: Zyban): originally used to treat depression, bupropion has been demonstrated to be an effective anti-smoking medicine; however, it’s not suitable for children younger than 18, pregnant and breastfeeding women, or people with bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or eating disorders.
• E-cigarettes: e-cigarettes allow you to inhale nicotine while preventing other harmful cigarette substances; they can lead to you giving up smoking, so you may want to try them before anything else.

Useful Information