Stop-smoking medication, supported by a UK prescriber

Why is stopping smoking so difficult?

Nicotine is highly addictive — it acts on reward pathways in the brain in a way that makes the body come to rely on it. When you stop smoking, the withdrawal symptoms (cravings, irritability, difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep) are a direct result of the brain adjusting to the absence of nicotine. Many people attempt to quit several times before they succeed, and that is entirely normal — each attempt is valuable information about what works for you.

The good news is that stopping smoking has significant health benefits from the moment you quit, and they continue to accumulate over years. After one year without smoking, your excess risk of heart disease is roughly halved. After ten to fifteen years, your risk of most smoking-related cancers approaches that of a non-smoker.

How does stop-smoking medication help?

Prescription stop-smoking medication works in two main ways. One class replaces some of the nicotine your body is used to — reducing withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on breaking the habit rather than fighting cravings. A second class works on the brain pathways that make smoking rewarding, reducing the urge to smoke and making cigarettes less satisfying if you do slip up.

Prescription stop-smoking medication is significantly more effective than going cold turkey, and combining it with a stop date, behavioural support and a plan for dealing with triggers makes success more likely still. We do not list specific medicines on this page — which option suits you is decided by your prescriber inside the consultation.

Treating nicotine dependence with NewGen

NewGen Pharmacy is a GPhC-registered community pharmacy at 245 High Street, Stratford, and our online clinic is run by the same registered team. We can prescribe stop-smoking medication alongside practical tips for your quit attempt. Your prescription is dispensed and delivered in discreet, plain packaging — or you can collect from our Stratford branch.

How the online consultation works for stopping smoking

The consultation asks about your current smoking habits, how many previous quit attempts you have made and what helped or did not help, and your general health. This gives the prescriber what they need to choose the most appropriate medication and advise on the best approach for your situation. The whole process takes around five minutes.

When to see your GP instead

An online stop-smoking consultation is suited to most adults who want to quit smoking. See your GP first if you are pregnant (specialist support is available through the NHS), if you have a history of serious mental illness (some stop-smoking medicines require closer monitoring), or if you have had recent heart or circulation problems. Your GP can also refer you to your local free NHS Stop Smoking Service, which offers structured support alongside medication and is very effective.