Stopping smoking: what support the NHS offers and what to expect

What help do NHS stop smoking services provide?

NHS stop smoking services offer information and advice and professional support during the first few months after someone stops smoking. They provide nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and gum, and medicines such as varenicline and bupropion. In England people can refer themselves to a local service through the NHS Better Health website, and can also speak to a GP. What a local service offers, such as eligibility for a free e-cigarette starter pack, varies by area.

How do nicotine replacement and medicines work?

Nicotine replacement therapy comes as patches, gum, lozenges, microtabs, and mouth and nasal sprays. The NHS says nicotine replacement therapy gives the body nicotine without the other harmful chemicals found in cigarettes and tobacco. Varenicline works by blocking the effects of nicotine in the brain. NHS pages say that a nicotine-free medicine such as varenicline or cytisine can be combined with a nicotine product, and describe the combination as giving the best chance of success.

Where do vapes fit in?

E-cigarettes are not currently available as medicines, so stop smoking services cannot supply them and they cannot be prescribed on the NHS. Some local stop smoking services may still offer a free starter pack.

What happens in the body after stopping?

The NHS sets out a timeline: within about 20 minutes the pulse rate begins to return to normal. By 48 hours carbon monoxide levels in the blood have fallen to those of a non-smoker. After one year the risk of a heart attack is about half that of a person who smokes, and after ten years the risk of lung cancer is about half. NHS pages also report mental health benefits: once the withdrawal stage has passed, people report less anxiety, depression and stress.

What are cravings and withdrawal like?

The NHS says withdrawal symptoms are temporary, usually strongest in the first week and lasting on average three to four weeks. NHS inform, the Scottish NHS site, says cravings should ease after the first two to three weeks. The NHS says an individual craving lasts only a short time. Walking, chewing sugar-free gum and deep breathing are among the coping ideas it lists.

What other support is available?

In November 2024 NHS England announced a rollout of varenicline, a stop smoking pill, to help tens of thousands of people a year try to quit.

Why does the NHS stress stopping?

The NHS Better Health site says the harm from smoking reaches beyond the lungs, including a higher risk of dementia and inflammation that can worsen joint pain. The relief a cigarette seems to give from stress is short-lived, and smoking can make anxiety and low mood worse over time, according to the NHS.