Stop-smoking drug risks outweighed by benefits

He says 30% of smokers already have some psychological imbalances and that quitting smoking will often unmask those symptoms.

CHANGING BEHAVIOUR
Dr Pipe recommends sitting with each patient and identifying with him or her tangible benefits that smoking cessation will have on their health. They should also be made aware of varenicline's stimulation of nicotine receptors, which gives them the feeling as though they've just smoked a cigarette. "Some patients might think 'that was easy' after the first few weeks and then quit the treatment," he says. "They need to be told why they're feeling the way they are and reminded to stay on the 12-week course."

Counselling patients about picking a quit date and simple behavioural strategies and techniques will help too, says Dr Selby.

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