HomeAnswersPsychiatrysmoking

How to quit smoking after multiple failed attempts at 41?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

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.

  1. For people who finally managed to quit after multiple failed attempts, what actually made the difference?

  2. Was it meds, counseling, nicotine replacement, or just hitting a personal breaking point?

Please help.

Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Avinash Choudhary

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Avinash Choudhary is a dedicated psychiatry specialist committed to helping individuals improve their mental and emotional well-being through compassionate, evidence-based care. He has experience in diagnosing and managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders, bipolar disorder, sleep problems, and other psychiatric concerns. Dr. Avinash Choudhary believes in providing a safe, supportive, and confidential environment where patients feel comfortable discussing their concerns. He focuses on personalized treatment plans, patient education, and long-term recovery, helping individuals build resilience and achieve a better quality of life.      

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

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.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At May 29, 2026
Reviewed At June 1, 2026

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Avinash Choudhary is a dedicated psychiatry specialist committed to helping individuals improve their mental and emotional well-being through compassionate, evidence-based care. He has experience in diagnosing and managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders, bipolar disorder, sleep problems, and other psychiatric concerns. Dr. Avinash Choudhary believes in providing a safe, supportive, and confidential environment where patients feel comfortable discussing their concerns. He focuses on personalized treatment plans, patient education, and long-term recovery, helping individuals build resilience and achieve a better quality of life.      

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Avinash Choudhary
Dr. Avinash Choudhary

Psychiatry

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Avinash Choudhary is a dedicated psychiatry specialist committed to helping individuals improve their mental and emotional well-being through compassionate, evidence-based care. He has experience in diagnosing and managing a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders, bipolar disorder, sleep problems, and other psychiatric concerns. Dr. Avinash Choudhary believes in providing a safe, supportive, and confidential environment where patients feel comfortable discussing their concerns. He focuses on personalized treatment plans, patient education, and long-term recovery, helping individuals build resilience and achieve a better quality of life.      

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
Listen to related tracks in our music library

Related Questions

Stress and Kidney Stones

Smoking And Ulcerative Colitis

Can my stomach upset mean some underlying issues like cancer?

Smoking and Bone Health - The Hidden Danger

What are the management strategies that aid in smoking cessation?

Stress vs. Anxiety

Comprehensive Second Opinion

Read answers about:

smokingstressnicotine replacement therapy

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Psychiatry

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.