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Smoking cessation

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Getting treated privately is a service designed for individuals who are looking to get treated for a medical condition from the comfort of their own home. Get connected with one of our clinicians to start your assessment. It’s FREE and you only pay for medication that is prescribed. This service is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council in the UK.
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Smoking cessation key facts

Navin Khosla NowPatientGreen tick
Created on 10 Jun 2024
Updated on 16 Jul 2024

Smoking is a major health problem impacting on other health conditions such as heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). According to NICE, there were 474,000 hospital admissions and 79,000 deaths caused by smoking, in 2015-16.

Here, we will take a closer look at the benefits of quitting smoking, effective strategies, local stop-smoking services, and insights into overcoming relapses.

Understanding the challenges of quitting

Those deciding to quit smoking often face challenges:

  • Nicotine withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating
  • Cravings and triggers, such as stress or mood swings
  • Slips and relapses

Smoking cessation strategies, such as quit-smoking medications, can help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms and improve the chances of quitting.

Benefits of quitting smoking

  • A decrease in blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks as well as cancer. Quitting smoking can increase life expectancy by as much as 10 years
  • Average smokers save around £38 a week, which adds up to around £2,000 a year
  • Improved physical and mental health, improved sense of taste and smell, easier breathing, increased energy levels, reduced anxiety, depression, and stress
  • Harmful carbon monoxide levels in your blood will be reduced by half
  • Health benefits extend to loved ones, reducing non-smokers exposure to secondhand smoke

Including interventions for tobacco use, changes in diet, and reducing alcohol intake can enhance benefits, further improving outcomes for ex-smokers.

Effective strategies for smoking cessation

  • Finding personal motivations to quit smoking
  • Preparing a quit plan with a quit date and exploring support options like quit-smoking classes, apps, counselling, and medications
  • Removing all tobacco products from your home, as well as cleaning thoroughly to remove the smell of tobacco smoke
  • Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as nicotine gum, patches, lozenges, inhalers, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) or vaping can help make quitting more bearable
  • Prescription medications such as bupropion (Zyban), varenicline and cytisine
  • Family, friends and colleagues can help support you with your quit attempt
  • Regular exercise can help distract you from cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms
  • Eat well-balanced meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins
  • Use delay tactics to distract yourself when you have cravings
  • Use healthy substitutes such as carrots or nuts instead of reaching for a cigarette
  • Resist the temptation to smoke ‘just one’ cigarette
  • Try meditation, yoga, or listening to calming music to relieve stress
  • Learn from past attempts to understand what worked and what didn’t

Use resources such as NHS Stop Smoking Services, or Smokefree Smartphone Apps to support your smoke-free life.

Support systems and resources

Resources and support systems include:

  • Consulting with a GP, pharmacist, or health visitor in England, Scotland, or Wales
  • Digital support tools are useful resources to track your progress and to receive daily support
  • Community and online support that can be accessed via phone or video call. The NHS provides 28 days of email support, a Quit Smoking Support Group, and the National Smokefree Helpline
  • The American Cancer Society and Smokefree.gov provide tools and guides

These support systems and resources can improve your chances of success in maintaining a smoke-free lifestyle.

Overcoming relapses

Relapses are a common problem when trying to quit smoking. Here are some tips on how to navigate relapses effectively:

  • Understanding what led to the relapse. Did you have a stressful day at work, was it a social event with other smokers? Reflecting can provide a learning opportunity. Reflect on the cause and use it as an opportunity
  • Identify and manage triggers:
    • Practice deep breathing or mindfulness for stress or anxiety
    • Change your routine or environment if you normally smoke after meals
    • Avoid being around other smokers or prepare with NRT
    • Use delay tactics like drinking water or a 10-minute walk if you have the urge to smoke
  • Engage with support from family, friends, or support groups

Identify and avoid common triggers, and seek support to address relapses.

Conclusion

As you continue on your journey, it is important to remember that while the process might be challenging, the health benefits are worth it. If you need further support, try NHS Stop Smoking Services and Smokefree Smartphone Apps for additional guidance.

Frequently asked questions about smoking cessation

What are the essential steps in a smoking cessation intervention?

The essential steps are known as the “5 A’s”: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange. This helps to identify smokers and provide appropriate interventions.

What does a smoking cessation service entail?

Smoking cessation services provide ongoing behavioural support and the provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). These services are provided by pharmacists who have appropriate training in smoking cessation.

What are the 5 R’s related to smoking cessation?

The 5 R’s are motivational strategies designed to complement the 5 A’s. They include Relevance, Risk, Rewards, Repetition, and Roadblocks.

What is the most effective method to quit smoking permanently?

The most effective method to quit smoking involves a combination of quit-smoking products such as nicotine patches, lozenges, gum, inhalators, nasal sprays, and medication such as bupropion, as well as enrolling in support programs. Programs should be led by suitably trained professionals in treating tobacco dependence. Options include community stop-smoking groups or in-person or telephone consultations.

Service Guide

Everything you need to know about Getting Treated Privately

What does the Get Treated Privately service do?

The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.

Is this a safe service?

Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed and conditions treated are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the consultation.

What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?

Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.

Is the service available worldwide?

Yes, the Get Treated Privately service is available worldwide.

Do I need to pay for this service?

Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the medication you are prescribed.

How do I book a consultation?

Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately quick action widget which is located at the bottom of your dashboard. You can then select one of the following actions – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’.

Depending on the search type, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. You will then need to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available clinicians. From this list, you can filter clinicians by gender and then select the clinician you would like to confirm for your booking.

Once you have approved this, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before it is due to start.

You can ‘star’ the Get Treated Privately quick action widget to have it display in the ‘My Favourite Widgets’ section of your dashboard, for ease of future booking or checking active or past orders.

What happens during the remote video consultation?

During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to diagnose your health condition and consider possible treatment options. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is a safe and appropriate option for you.

If it is, the clinician will discuss the various treatment options that may be available, so that you can jointly agree on the option that is most suited to you. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription order which will be available in your ‘shopping cart’ at the end of the consultation.

Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your GP of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your GP is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.

What happens at the end of the consultation?

At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise if any referrals were made to your GP, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.

If a GP referral letter was issued, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘My Documents’ section of your dashboard.

If you were prescribed a treatment plan, it will now be available in your shopping cart. When you go to your shopping cart, you will be able to checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.

What if the prescriber does not prescribe what I want?

We operate a safe and effective service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing. Unfortunately, we do not operate a service where you can demand a certain medication. If you are not prescribed anything, then you will not be charged.

Will I get status updates for my order?

Yes. When you place an order with NowPatient, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in your ‘My Notifications’ section on your dashboard. You can click the notification and it will take you to your active orders screen which will give you a timeline overview of the progress of your order. This can also be accessed using the ‘My Orders’ quick action widget which is on your dashboard. Here, you can access active and past orders.

How will my order be delivered?

All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour). For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.

For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.

Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?

Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.

Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.

Where do you deliver?

We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.

When will my order arrive?

We aim to ship all orders placed Monday – Friday before 3pm on the same day. Orders placed outside these times will be shipped the next working day. All deliveries are shipped by Royal Mail, which delivers Monday through Saturday in the UK. For deliveries outside of the UK, please check with your national postal service for accurate delivery days.
Our delivery options have the following delivery times:
  • UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
  • Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
  • Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.

What should I do if my order has not arrived?

Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your order in the ‘My Notifications’ section of your dashboard, at any point after dispatch.

Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system, if after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.

Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?

Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.

You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.

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Your Questions Answered

For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly

What does NowPatient do?

NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.

Get started today and benefit from medication remindersGet Treated PrivatelyNHS online pharmacyGP appointment bookingRx savings cardDrug CouponsUS drug savings programshealth conditions informationgenetic testinghome test kitsBMI RisksType 2 Diabetes Riskspollen meterair quality monitor, and lots more!

Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.

UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.

US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

Where is NowPatient located?

NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.

In the UK, we are located at:

NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA

In the US, we are located at:

NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX

How can I contact NowPatient?

To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.

Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:

UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977

Who owns NowPatient?

NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.

Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).

Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?

NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.

Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).

Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.

How do I make a complaint?

From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?

Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:

• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old

NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.

Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?

Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.

You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.

Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?

Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.

NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.

Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:

NowPatient Trustpilot

What are NowPatient’s opening hours?

Our office hours are:

UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST

Please note that we are closed at weekends.

In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:

UK – 999
US – 911

In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:

UK – 111

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