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                Women's Health Topics

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          Smoking - Medicines To Help You QuitWomen's Health Topics Smoking - Medicines To Help You Quit
  
  					From the FDA Office of Women's Health
	
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**Quitting is not easy but you can do it. There are medicines that may help you quit.**

There are products that help wean your body off the nicotine you get from cigarettes and tobacco. There are other medicines that help you deal with the cravings and other problems that you feel when you stop smoking.

This page lists all of the different FDA-approved products you can use to help you quit. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about which product is right for you.

**Nicotine Replacement Products**
	**Other Medicines to Help You Quit**
	**Quit Smoking Tips****Why Quit?**

Quitting may improve your health and wellness. If you quit smoking, you may:

lower your chance of dying of lung cancer
	improve your skin
	reduce bad breathSome women also decide to quit for their children or family. Whatever your reasons for quitting, you have made the right choice.

**Why is it so hard to quit?**

Many people who smoke become addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products. When you try to stop smoking, you might:

crave cigarettes
	feel nervous
	feel irritable (cranky)
	have headaches
	have problems sleeping
	feel depressedThese may be signs of nicotine withdrawal. Talk to your health care provider about the medicines listed in this booklet that may help you deal with withdrawal.

**Nicotine Replacement Products**

Nicotine replacement products give your body nicotine without most of the other chemicals found in cigarettes and other kinds of tobacco. These products help you wean your body off tobacco and help you deal with withdrawal.

Read the label and talk to your healthcare provider as needed about the right way to use each product.
	Ask how these products will affect your other medicines. Ask about the risks and side effects.
	Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should only use nicotine replacement products if their doctor says that it is OK.Product Type
			Product Name
			AvailabilityPatch
			Habitrol
			Nicoderm
			Store Brand or Generic
			Over-the-CounterGum
			Nicorette
			Store Brand or Generic
			Over-the-CounterNasal Spray
			Nicotrol
			PrescriptionInhaler
			Nicotrol
			PrescriptionLozenge
			Commit
			Nicorette
			Store Brand or Generic
			Over-the-Counter

You can get up-to-date facts about each product on the FDA website. Type in the brand name or generic name of your product at: Drugs@FDA.

**Other Medicines to Help You Quit**

Some prescription medicines have been found to help people deal with the withdrawal symptoms they feel when they quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits, risks, and side effects for each medicine.

Product Type
			Brand Name
			Generic Name
			AvailabilityPill
			Zyban
			Bupropion
			PrescriptionPill
			Chantix
			Varenicline Tartrate
			Prescription

**Other Things to Consider**

Before you take Chantix or Zyban, tell your healthcare provider if you:

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
	are breastfeeding.When trying to quit smoking with or without stop-smoking medicines, some people have significant side effects including new or worsening mental health problems such as:

thoughts about suicide or dying
	attempts to commit suicide
	new or worse depression
	new or worse anxiety
	feeling very agitated or restless
	panic attacks
	trouble sleeping (insomnia)
	new or worse irritability
	acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
	acting on dangerous impulses
	an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
	other unusual changes in behavior or moodThese symptoms happen more often in people who had a history of mental health problems before trying to quit smoking than in people without a history of mental health problems.

**Stop taking Chantix or Zyban and call your healthcare provider right away if you, your family, or your caregiver notices any of these side effects.**
	**Before taking these medicines**, **tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had depression or other mental health problems**. You should also tell your provider about any symptoms you had during other times you tried to quit smoking.
	**Read the patient****Medication Guide** that comes with each new Chantix or Zyban prescription because the information may have changed. The Medication Guide explains the risks associated with the use of the medicine.**Quit Smoking Tips**

**Quit Smoking... for yourself and for those who need you.**

**Set a Quit Date**

	Pick a day in the next 2 weeks.
		Plan fun activities for your quit day to take your mind off smoking and tobacco.
	**Tell your Friends and Family**
	Get help from the important people in your life.
		Join a support group.
		Call a quit smoking helpline.
	**Plan for Challenges and Setbacks**
	Plan ways to deal with cravings, withdrawal, and stress.
		Do not give up.
		Keep trying.
	**Remove all Cigarettes and Other Tobacco**
	Get rid of cigarettes and tobacco.
		Throw out your matches, lighters, and ashtrays.
		Clean your clothes and house to get rid of cigarette smell.
	**Talk to your Healthcare Provider**
	Talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about medicines to help you deal with nicotine withdrawal.
		Ask if your other medicines will work differently now that you have quit smoking.Learn More About Quitting Smoking

Smoke Free Women
	Be Tobacco Free.govResources For You

Women's Health and Smoking
	smokefree.gov
	BeTobaccoFree.gov
	Heart Health for Women
	Get Other FDA Publications for Women
	For Women Homepage

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      09/25/2018
              
              
Topic(s)
			  Consumer HealthHealth Topic(s)
			  Tobacco
			    			       			    			       AddictionWomen's Health Topics

          
                        Aging
          Anxiety
          Caregiving
          Cholesterol medicines
          Clinical trials
          Contact lens care
          Cosmetics
          Depression
          Diabetes
          Dietary supplements
          Food safety
          Heart health
          High blood pressure
          HIV
          HPV
          Mammography
          Medication safety
          Medicine and pregnancy
          Menopause
          Osteoporosis
          Pain medicines
          Pregnancy
          Sleep problems
          Smoking
          Tattoos and permanent makeup
          Uterine fibroids


                        Pregnancy Exposure Registries
          Free publications for women
 
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