Personalized support and medication to help you quit smoking
About This Service
Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take for your lung health. Dr. Hsieh provides individualized smoking cessation counseling and can prescribe FDA-approved medications to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Research shows that patients who have regular check-ins with their physician are significantly more likely to quit successfully. We work with you to develop a quit plan tailored to your needs.
Current smokers who want to quit, patients who have tried to quit on their own without lasting success, and those with pulmonary conditions such as COPD or asthma where continued smoking worsens their disease. Nicotine addiction involves both physical dependence and behavioral habit, which is why medication combined with regular physician check-ins is significantly more effective than willpower alone. We welcome patients at any stage of readiness to quit.
Reviewed by Dr. Jerry Hsieh, MD — Board Certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Internal Medicine
Last reviewed:
Common Questions
What medications can help me quit smoking?
Three classes of FDA-approved medications have strong evidence for smoking cessation: nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, nasal spray — often more effective when a long-acting form is combined with a short-acting one), varenicline (Chantix), and bupropion (Zyban / Wellbutrin SR). Combination therapy and longer treatment durations (12 weeks or more) significantly improve quit rates compared to using a single product alone.
How effective is varenicline (Chantix)?
Varenicline is among the most effective single-agent therapies for smoking cessation, with quit rates roughly two to three times that of placebo and modestly higher than nicotine replacement or bupropion in head-to-head studies. It works by partially activating nicotine receptors, which reduces both cravings and the rewarding effects of smoking. A typical course is 12 weeks, sometimes extended to 24 weeks for additional benefit.
Why is physician-supported quitting more successful than going it alone?
Combining counseling with FDA-approved medication roughly doubles your chance of long-term success compared to medication alone, and roughly triples it compared to willpower alone. Regular check-ins help adjust medications, address side effects, troubleshoot triggers, and provide accountability. The USPSTF gives behavioral counseling plus pharmacotherapy a Grade A recommendation for adult smokers — its highest evidence rating.
Is vaping a safe way to quit smoking?
Electronic cigarettes are not FDA-approved as cessation aids and we do not recommend them as a first-line strategy. While vaping appears less harmful than combustible cigarettes, it still delivers nicotine, can cause lung injury (EVALI), and many patients end up using both vapes and cigarettes (dual use), which does not reduce harm. Standard FDA-approved medications combined with counseling have the strongest evidence.
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