How to quit smoking after multiple failed attempts at 41?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 41-year-old male and have smoked since college. I have tried quitting more times than I can count, and usually make it a few weeks before stress or cravings pull me back in.

Lately, I have been seeing more anti-smoking campaigns, and honestly, some of them scare me, but part of me also feels numb to the messaging after hearing it for years.

For people who finally managed to quit after multiple failed attempts, what actually made the difference?
Was it meds, counseling, nicotine replacement, or just hitting a personal breaking point?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern and will definitely help you with it.

Nicotine is the most addictive psychoactive substance, and it precipitates significant withdrawal symptoms on quitting.

Withdrawal symptoms largely depend on the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the duration of use.

Internal factors or self-motivation to quit smoking is the first important step for any psychoactive substance, including smoking. For the management of withdrawal symptoms, both drug therapy and behavioral modifications are equally essential and important.

Combination nicotine replacement therapy (one long-acting form, such as patches, and one short-acting agent, such as gum, spray, or lozenges) and the drug Varenicline are evidence-based treatments and have equal efficacy.

Single nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion are also effective, but the success rate is slightly lower than the combination of NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) and Varenicline.

If you share your current smoking pattern and factors that are stopping you from quitting, I will make a tailored approach for you. Also take the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence.

I hope this information helps you.

Thank you.