What’s the best way to quit smoking
Organization: Health Canada
Date published: 2023
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
- Delivers nicotine to your body in small amounts
- Can help you control cravings
- Long-acting form – nicotine patch
- Short-acting forms – nicotine gum, inhaler, spray, and lozenge
Prescription medications
- Varenicline and Bupropion
- Contain no nicotine
- Can help control cravings and withdrawal symptomsFootnote 1
Counselling
- One-on-one, confidential support
- Quit coaches can help you develop a structured quit plan and answer your questions about quitting
Cytisine
- Non-prescription natural health product that mimics the effects of nicotine on the body
- Available online and in certain stores and pharmaciesFootnote 4
Improve your chances by combining quit aids and supports
Varenicline medication + CounsellingFootnote 2 or Long-acting NRT + Short-acting NRTFootnote 2
=
Nearly 3X chance of successfully quitting
Single form of NRT onlyFootnote 2 or Bupropion medication onlyFootnote 2 or Counselling onlyFootnote 3
=
Almost 2X chance of successfully quitting
TIP: Don't know what to try? Speak with a healthcare provider or a quit coach about which quit aids and available supports are right for you at gosmokefree.gc.ca/quit or toll-free at 1-866-366-3667.
Endnotes
- Footnote 1
-
Clinical Practice Guideline Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence 2008 Update Panel, Liaisons, and Staff (2008). A clinical practice guideline for treating tobacco use and dependence: 2008 update. A U.S. Public Health Service report. American journal of preventive medicine, 35(2), 158–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.04.009
- Footnote 2
-
Cahill, K., Stevens, S., Perera, R., Lancaster, T. (2013). Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta-analysis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,(5), CD009329. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009329.pub2
- Footnote 3
-
Lancaster, T., & Stead, L. F. (2017). Individual behavioural counselling for smoking cessation. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3(3), CD001292. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001292.pub3
- Footnote 4
-
Karnieg, T., & Wang, X. (2018). Cytisine for smoking cessation. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 190(19), E596. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.171371
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