Medicines To Help You

Read this guide... even if you are not ready to quit now. Learn more about 

products and medicines to help you quit smoking. Use this guide to help you 

talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about the benefits and risks of taking 

products to help you quit smoking.

Smoking
You are a woman. 

You are a smoker.

You are not alone. Approximately 18% of adult women smoke. More than half 

of all smokers want to quit. There is help.

Read this guide... even if you are not ready to quit now. Learn more about products 

and medicines to help you quit smoking. Read tips to help you make a quit smoking 

plan that may work for you. Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, 

or nurse.

Why is it so hard to quit?

Many people who smoke become addicted to a chemical called nicotine in cigarettes 

and other tobacco products. When you try to stop smoking, you might crave 

cigarettes, feel depressed, feel nervous, feel irritable (cranky), have headaches, or 

have trouble sleeping. These are signs of nicotine withdrawal. There are products 

you can try that may help you quit. You can buy some of these products at your 

local drug store. You need a prescription from your doctor for the other medicines. 

Why Quit?

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health. In fact, lung cancer kills more 

women than breast cancer. Did you know that if you quit smoking you may improve 

your health right away? Quitting may improve your skin, reduce bad breath, and 

make your hair smell better.

The Same Day You Quit

Your blood pressure will go down.

Within a Month

Your circulation (blood flow) will get better.

Your breathing may improve.

Within a Year

Your risk of heart disease will be half the risk of someone who smokes.

Overall, your chance of dying of lung cancer will be less if you quit. Your chance 

of getting other kinds of cancer like throat, kidney, or bladder cancer will also go 

down.

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Smoking and Your Health

• Some medicines work differently when you quit smoking. Talk to your doctor or 

pharmacist about all of the medicines you are taking.

• Postmenopausal women who smoke raise their chances of having weak bones.

Smoking and Birth Control

• Women who smoke may have serious reactions to their birth control.

• Women who smoke while using birth control raise their chances of having a 

stroke, heart problems, or blood clots. This problem can affect any woman but it 

is more likely in women over age 35.

Always tell your doctor or nurse that you smoke when you go to get your 

birth control.

Smoking and Pregnancy

Smoking harms the health of women and their babies.

• Women who smoke may have problems getting pregnant.

• Women who smoke are more likely to have premature, stillborn, or low birth 

weight babies. 

• Women who smoke may put their babies at risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death 

Syndrome) - a condition that causes a baby to stop breathing.

• Babies exposed to smoking may be more likely to have asthma or ear infections. 

Try to quit smoking before you become pregnant. If you find out that you are 

pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about safe ways that you can quit 

smoking.
 1. Set a Quit Date and Make a Plan

• Pick a day you want to quit.

• Talk to your pharmacist or doctor. 

• Plan how to handle situations where others are smoking.

• Remove cigarettes from your home, car, and office.

 2. Get Help

• Tell your friends and family that you are quitting.

• Join a support group.

• Call a quit smoking helpline.

 3. Deal with Cravings and Withdrawal

• Try nicotine replacement products or medicines.

• Exercise to reduce stress.

• Start a hobby to keep your mind off smoking. 

 4. Plan for Setbacks

• Do not give up. Try again.

• Think about what worked and what did not work.

• Talk to friends who have quit.

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For more information to help you quit smoking:

http://www.smokefree.gov

1-800-QUITNOW

1-800-784-8669

TTY: 1-800-332-8615

National Cancer Institute

1-877-448-7848

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco

Quit Smoking Tips
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Nicotine Replacement Products

Product Type Product Name Availability

Patch

Habitrol

Nicoderm

Store Brand or Generic

Over-the-Counter

Gum Nicorette

Store Brand or Generic Over-the-Counter

Nasal Spray Nicotrol Prescription

Inhaler Nicotrol Prescription

Lozenge

Commit

Store Brand or Generic Over-the-Counter

How They Work

Nicotine replacement products give your body nicotine without the other 

chemicals found in cigarettes and other tobacco products. These products help 

you wean your body off cigarettes. Nicotine replacement products should be 

used for a short time to help you deal with withdrawal. Read the label and talk to 

your pharmacist or doctor about the right way to use each product.

Like any medicine, nicotine replacement products may cause some side effects. 

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about your specific risks. Check the next 

page for general warnings about using these products.

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/
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What else should I know about Nicotine Replacement Products?

Warnings

• Do not smoke, chew tobacco, use snuff, or use any other product containing 

nicotine while using any nicotine replacement product.

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should only use these products if 

their doctor says that it is OK.

• Talk to your doctor before using these products if you have diabetes, heart 

disease, asthma, or stomach ulcers.

• Talk to your doctor before using these products if you have had a recent heart 

attack or have high blood pressure but are not taking medicine.

Common Side Effects

The side effects are different for each product. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or 

nurse to tell you about all of the side effects and risks for each product.

You can also check the FDA website for more information on each product. 

Go to: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

Danger Signs

Stop use and call your doctor if you have any of these signs:

• Nausea (Upset Stomach)

• Dizziness

• Weakness

• Vomiting

• Fast or Irregular Heartbeat

• Mouth or Throat Problems

• Redness or Swelling of the Skin Around the Patch that Does Not Go Away
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Other Medicines to Help You Quit

Product Type Brand Name Generic Name Availability

Pill Zyban Bupropion Prescription

Warnings

• Do not take this medicine if you have or had a seizure disorder or epilepsy.

• Do not take this medicine if you are also taking Wellbutrin or other medicines 

containing Bupropion.

• Do not take this medicine if you drink a lot of alcohol or stop drinking all of a 

sudden.

• Do not take this medicine if you take medicines called sedatives that make you 

sleepy.

• Do not take this medicine if you have taken within the last 14 days medicines 

for depression called MAOI.

• Do not take this medicine if you have or had an eating disorder.

• Talk to your doctor if you have kidney, heart, or liver problems, high blood 

pressure, mental health problems, or diabetes.

• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, pregnant or planning to get pregnant.

Common Side Effects

• Dry Mouth 

• Problems Sleeping

• Nausea (upset stomach)

• Constipation

• Vomiting

• Dizziness

• Blurred Vision 

If you have a seizure while taking ZYBAN, stop taking the tablets and call 

your doctor right away. Do not take ZYBAN again if you have a seizure.
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What else should I know about Zyban?

Some people who take Zyban have had serious changes in their mood and 

behavior. These changes can happen while you are taking Zyban or after you stop 

taking it.

Stop use and call a doctor right away if you notice these changes in yourself 

or someone else taking this medicine.

• Think about dying or killing yourself

• Try to kill yourself

• Feel depressed or your depression gets worse

• Feel anxious or your anxiety gets worse

• Have panic attacks

• Have trouble sleeping (insomnia)

• Feel very agitated or restless

• Feel irritable

• Feel or act aggressive, angry or violent

• Act on dangerous impulses

• Talk or act more than you typically do (mania)

• Have thoughts or sensations that are not typical for you

• See or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)

• Feel like people are against you (paranoia)

• Feel confused

• Notice other changes in your behavior or mood that are not typical for you

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had depression 

or other mental health problems. You should also tell your doctor about any 

symptoms you had during other times you tried to quit smoking.

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/
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Warnings

• Tell your doctor if you have ever had depression or other mental health 

problems

• Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or get kidney dialysis.

• Tell your doctor if you have any allergies.

• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding (nursing).

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant.

• Tell your doctor if you take insulin, asthma medicines, or blood thinners.

Common Side Effects

• Nausea (upset stomach)

• Sleep Problems (trouble sleeping or strange dreams)

• Constipation

• Gas

• Vomiting

Product Type Brand Name Generic Name Availability

Pill Chantix Varenicline 

Tartrate Prescription

For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug

Check http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/
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What else should I know about Chantix?

Some people who take Chantix have had serious changes in their mood and 

behavior. These changes can happen while you are taking Chantix or after you 

stop taking it. 

Stop use and call a doctor right away if you notice these changes in yourself 

or someone else taking this medicine.

• Think about dying or killing yourself

• Try to kill yourself

• Feel depressed or your depression gets worse

• Feel anxious or your anxiety gets worse

• Have panic attacks

• Have trouble sleeping (insomnia)

• Feel very agitated or restless

• Feel irritable

• Feel or act aggressive, angry or violent

• Act on dangerous impulses

• Talk or act more than you typically do (mania)

• Have thoughts or sensations that are not typical for you

• See or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)

• Feel like people are against you (paranoia)

• Feel confused

• Notice other changes in your behavior or mood that are not typical for you

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have ever had depression 

or other mental health problems. You should also tell your doctor about any 

symptoms you had during other times you tried to quit smoking.
www.fda.gov/womens
This guide should not be used in place of talking to your doctor or reading the product label. 

The drug and risk information in this guide may change. Check 

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/ for the latest facts on each product 

listed in this guide.

To Learn More:

Smokefree.gov

http://www.smokefree.gov

Phone: 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669)

TTY/TDD: 1-800-332-8615

TAKE TIME TO CARE... For yourself, for those who need you.

http://www.fda.gov/womens

This document was developed by FDA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH).