Smoking: 

Medicines to Help 

You Quit

Why 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 depressed

These may be signs of nicotine withdrawal.

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 booklet lists all of the different 

FDA-approved products you can use 

to help you quit. Use this booklet 

to help you talk to your healthcare 

provider about which product is 

right for you.

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 breath

Whatever your reasons for quitting, you 

have made the right choice.

Quitting is not easy, but you 

can do it. There are medicines 

that may help you quit.

FDA Office of Women’s Health

www.fda.gov/womens
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

Nicorette

 Store Brand or Generic

 Over-the-Counter

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.

You can get up-to-date facts about each product on the 

FDA website. Type in the brand or generic name of your product at:

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/

Nicotine Replacement 

Products
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. 

• thoughts about suicide or dying

• attempts to commit suicide

• new or worse depression

• new or worse anxiety

• feeling very agitated or restless

• panic attacks

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

Other Medicines to Help

You Quit

Some prescription medicines may help people deal with the withdrawal symptoms they feel 

when they quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider and read the medication guide 

that comes with your prescription to learn about the benefits, risks, and side effects for these 

medicines. This booklet does not provide all of the facts about these medicines.

 PRODUCT TYPE BRAND NAME GENERIC NAME AVAILABILITY 

 Pill Zyban Bupropion Prescription

 Pill Chantix Varenicline Tartrate Prescription

Before you take Chantix or Zyban, 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.

When trying to quit smoking with or without stop-smoking medicines, some people have 

serious side effects including new or worsening mental health problems. These 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.

• 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 mood
1. 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. 

2. Tell your Friends and Family 

• Get help from the important 

people in your life. 

• Join a support group. 

• Call a quit smoking helpline. 

3. Plan for Challenges 

 and Setbacks 

• Plan ways to deal with 

cravings, withdrawal, and 

stress. 

• Do not give up. 

• Keep trying. 

4. 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. 

5. Talk to your Healthcare 

 Provider

• Talk to your healthcare 

provider about medicines to 

help you deal with nicotine 

withdrawal. 

• Ask if your other medicines will 

work differently now that you 

have quit smoking. 

For More Information to Help You Quit

 www.women.smokefree.gov

1-800-QUIT-NOW | 1-800-784-8669 | TTY: 1-877-777-6534

www.BeTobaccoFree.gov

Quit Smoking Tips

This booklet was developed by the FDA Office of Women’s Health. 

2017 To get other women’s health resources, go to www.fda.gov/womens

Quit smoking for yourself and for those who need you.