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Summary

Smoking is a tough habit to kick, but the health benefits are numerous.
Quitting cold turkey is an option, but support can improve your success rate.
Treatments like Chantix and Bupropion may increase your chances of quitting smoking.

Stop Smoking: essential info
Causes
What are my options?
FAQ

Reviewed on August 26, 2025. by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

Registered with GPhC (No. 2241935)

Next review due on August 26, 2028

Last updated on August 26, 2025

Find the stop smoking treatment that’s best for you.

We’ve got a range of options, and our clinicians can help you find the one that’s best for your body and your budget.

Varenicline

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Bupropion SR

Bupropion

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Starting at $66.95

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Varenicline

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(92)

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Starting at $108.95

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Chantix

Varenicline

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Starting at $627.95

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The quit smoking timeline

It’s been estimated that it can take some smokers 30 or more attempts to quit.^[1] So if you have a few hiccups along the way, that’s totally normal. But if you stay determined, there’s every chance that you can stop smoking forever.
And once you’ve quit, you’ll likely notice some positive changes in the body over time. These little milestones are massively beneficial to your health, and knowing what’s going on inside (and not solely focusing on the negative experiences of quitting smoking), can be a great motivator. This is where the stop smoking timeline comes in.^[2]

The following benefits might be variable, depending on a range of factors such as your individual health and medical profile.

But it’s thought that it takes just 20 minutes for signs of improvement to take effect as your heart rate will return to its normal rate. After eight hours, carbon monoxide levels are halved in the body and your oxygen levels are also increased. The carbon monoxide leaves your body completely after two days and your lungs start to recover. Your sense of taste and smell start to return to normal too. And the following day, you’ll find that your bronchial tubes can relax again, helping you to breathe more easily.

Over the next few weeks, the blood flow to your heart will increase considerably and after just three to nine months, any coughing and wheezing will disappear as your lung capacity increases. Long term, it takes just a year for your risk of a heart attack to reduce by 50%, and in ten years, the same for lung cancer risks.

As an added bonus, you won’t spend as much on tobacco. So you not only have the energy to do more, you’ll be able to better afford it too.

How smoking damages your health

Smoking increases your risk of various cancers, including cancers of the throat, mouth, liver, lungs, stomach and pancreas. And this is just a fraction of the cancers associated with it. Heart disease, strokes, various vascular diseases, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pneumonia and impotence in men can also all be caused by smoking.^[3]

It’s not just your own health as a smoker that’s at risk. Passive smoking (breathing in the smoke of other peoples’ tobacco) increases your chances of developing all of the conditions mentioned above by as much as a quarter, with young people at particular risk.

Quitting smoking cold turkey

Quitting cold turkey can be very difficult, and stats from the UK’s NHS suggest that just 3% of people that try this method are successful with it.^[4] But separate studies suggest it’s the most effective method in some cases.^[5]The trick is to find the best approach for you and make sure you get the right support, whatever route you take.

Treated trusted source:

Chaiton, M., Diemert, L., Cohen, J.E., Bondy, S.J., Selby, P., Philipneri, A. and Schwartz, R. (2016). Estimating the number of quit attempts it takes to quit smoking successfully in a longitudinal cohort of smokers. BMJ Open, 6(6), p.e011045.
NHS (2020). Quit smoking – Better Health. Nhs.uk.
NHS (2018). What are the health risks of smoking?
NHS. (2018). Coping with cravings.
Smith, D.K., Miller, D.E. and Mounsey, A. (2017). PURLs: “Cold turkey” works best for smoking cessation. The Journal of family practice, 66(3), pp.174–176.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on August 26, 2025. Next review due on August 26, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Treatments to help you stop smoking

Prescription medication has been shown to be highly effective for many people who have successfully quit smoking. It should be noted though that they will not work alone; a commitment to becoming a non-smoker and some willpower are still needed if you choose to stop smoking this way. The main prescription treatments to stop smoking are Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion, which work in different ways. These are available as stop smoking tablets you take by mouth.

How do stop smoking tablets like Chantix and Bupropion work?

Chantix is the brand name of the drug varenicline. It works in two ways: by reducing the severity of cravings that makes quitting smoking so difficult; and by minimizing some of the more problematic symptoms, such as mood swings and insomnia. A course of Chantix normally lasts for 12 weeks, but sometimes people take it for longer. The drug bupropion was originally prescribed to treat depression. The science behind how it works isn’t entirely clear, but it’s understood that it has an effect on the part of the brain that’s connected to addiction. It should be started a week or two before you quit smoking and a course lasts for seven to nine weeks.

Stop smoking aids

As well as stop smoking treatments, there are stop smoking aids that can usually be bought over the counter. One of the most commonly used are NRTs (nicotine replacement therapies). These work (you guessed it) by replacing the nicotine you’re no longer getting from smoking to help wean you off the habit. They come as patches, gums, inhalators, tablets, lozenges and oral or nasal sprays, so there’s plenty of choice. Another way to wean yourself off smoking is E-cigarettes, which is an electronic device that releases nicotine (but without many of the harmful chemicals in tobacco). These are essentially another form of NRT, so they shouldn’t be used alongside things like gum or patches.

How we source info.

Stop Smoking: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Are there any other helpful tips to quit smoking?

Answer:

As well as treatments and support groups, there are other things that you can try to help you stop smoking.

Approaching quitting with a positive frame of mind can be really beneficial. So focusing on what it is that you’re going to achieve rather than the short term discomfort of withdrawal.

You can also think about when you tend to crave a cigarette, and prepare yourself for this in advance. So, for example, after you’ve had a meal, try to distract yourself with an activity or something else that you enjoy.

Changing your usual routine can really help too. So, if you used to wake up and have a cigarette, try switching up your morning habits. For example, having a coffee on the way to work instead could help you break the cycle.

Exercise can play a big role in quitting too. Not only is it good for your overall health, but there is some evidence that it reduces cravings.^[3] At the very least, it can keep your mind occupied in a healthy way.

Using a combination of these things can help you to achieve a life changing goal that you can be proud of.

Can talking about quitting help?

Answer:

Studies have shown that it can. Support can mean talking to a healthcare professional, support groups, and quitting at the same time as someone else and speaking about your experiences. According to the UK NHS, you’re four times more likely to quit when you’re getting support in addition to other methods. ^[2]

Is hypnotherapy a stop smoking treatment option?

Answer:

While some people say it was key to their success, the evidence for stop smoking hypnosis therapies is mixed. ^[1] Hypnotherapy aims to reduce the cravings that make stopping smoking so difficult.

It’s important to know that the American Medical Association doesn’t endorse hypnosis as a practice. So if you are thinking about going to a hypnotherapist to help you quit smoking, you should consult your physician beforehand. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis has a list of certified and approved practitioners, and has information on what sort of questions to ask them.

What side effects can stop smoking treatments cause?

Answer:

It depends on the type of stop smoking treatment you’re using. Not everyone gets them, but common side effects include finding it hard to sleep, headache, feeling sick, dizziness, skin rash and itching. If you get any side effects, you should discuss these with our clinician.

Serious side effects with stop smoking treatments are rare, but if you experience agitation, behavioral changes, or depression you should get medical advice right away. You should go to hospital immediately if you experience any suicidal thoughts, allergic reactions or a lupus skin rash (or symptoms of lupus that worsen).

Seizures are an uncommon side effect, and are more likely if you take too much treatment. If you have a seizure, seek urgent medical attention and don’t take any more of your stop smoking medication.

NRT can have side effects too. They’re normally mild, but if you find that they persist and cause you discomfort, let your physician know. They may need to adjust your dose, or explore alternative NRT options with you. Side effects include headache, dizziness, an upset stomach, sleeping difficulties (and sometimes vivid dreams), irritation of the skin if you’re using patches, and a sore nose, throat and eyes if you’re using a nasal spray.

You should always read the package leaflet that comes with your treatment before starting to use it.

Treated trusted source:

Linke, S.E., Ciccolo, J.T., Ussher, M. and Marcus, B.H. (2013). Exercise-based Smoking Cessation Interventions among Women. Women’s Health, 9(1), pp.69–84
NHS (2018). NHS stop smoking services help you quit – Quit smoking. [online] NHS.
Barnes, J. Et al. 2019. Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. U.S.A. Cochrane Library

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