Most people who quit smoking for good didn’t manage it on willpower alone, and they didn’t manage it first try either. The evidence is clear: using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with a bit of support roughly doubles your chances of quitting compared to going cold turkey.
Why quitting feels so hard
Nicotine withdrawal peaks in the first 72 hours: irritability, poor concentration, cravings that feel urgent but pass in 3–5 minutes. NRT works by taking the edge off that withdrawal while you break the habit itself, the cup-of-tea cigarette, the break-time smoke.
Choosing your NRT
Patches, the steady base
A nicotine patch gives a slow, constant level through the day. Start at the strength matching how much you smoke and step down over 8–10 weeks.
Gum, lozenges and spray, the rapid rescue
Nicotine gum, lozenges or the Quickmist spray handle sudden cravings. Most successful quitters use a patch plus a fast-acting product together, that combination is safe and more effective than either alone.
Your first week, planned
- Pick a quit date, ideally a calm week, and tell people
- Clear the house of cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays the night before
- Patch on first thing each morning; gum or spray in your pocket
- Change the routine around your trigger moments, different chair, different route, tea instead of coffee
- Count the money, a 20-a-day habit is around €450 a month back in your pocket
Free help on your doorstep
Our pharmacists can help you pick the right strength, manage side effects and step down properly, just call in or message us. You can also register free with the HSE’s Quit service for daily support texts. Slips aren’t failure; most ex-smokers needed a few attempts. The one that sticks starts the same way as all the others, you just start.
This article is general information, not a substitute for personal medical advice. Talk to our pharmacists at Laois Pharmacy, 1 Dunamaise House, Portlaoise (057 86 61999) or message us on WhatsApp (085 840 7548), we are always happy to help.
