The short answer is no – Champix is a prescription-only medicine and as such it can be bought only with a valid prescription issued by a registered and certified prescriber. However, on this page we will try to go a bit more in-depth and explain exactly why Champix isn’t available over-the-counter. In addition, we will highlight the ways to legally obtain Champix and provide you with info on other stop smoking treatments that you can buy without prescription.

What’s on this page?

Why do I need a prescription in order to buy Champix?

It is not possible to buy Champix over-the-counter (OTC) simply because prior to the beginning of the treatment, a medical professional has to assess your suitability for the medication. Champix has been known to adversely interact with certain medications such as Cimetidine (drug used for the treatment of several kidney diseases), so the two medicines should never be combined.

On the other hand, quitting smoking might include adjusting the dose or frequency of some other medications like it is the case with Warfarin, Theophylline or Insulin. So, a doctor’s advice is absolutely necessary in order to ensure safe and efficient treatment.

Champix might not be suitable for people affected by certain health conditions or people who might have predisposition to develop certain conditions. History of seizures, cardiovascular problems or mental health issues, most notably depression, might make Champix use risky and can lead to the doctor deciding not to issue the prescription, but recommend an alternative treatment instead. The need for a doctor to review patient’s medical profile before recommending the use of Champix is the main reason why this stop smoking aid cannot be obtained without a valid prescription.

Finally, in addition to this, contact with doctor is crucial for successful Champix treatment due to the fact that advices, support and supplementary information have been proven to exponentially increase the chances of quitting smoking for good with Champix.

What smoking cessation aids can I buy OTC?

If you are not that keen on trying to obtain a prescription for Champix for one reason or another, you might be interested in some other products available in the modern health market that can help you give up smoking, but which can be bought over the counter and without visiting a doctor. Here we will mention the most common ones.

Nicotine replacement therapy (or NRT for short)

It is common knowledge that out of thousands of harmful compounds that can be found in tobacco smoke, it is nicotine that causes the physical addiction that makes it so hard to quit smoking. Despite being addictive, nicotine actually doesn’t cause the same type of harm that tar or carbon monoxide (also dominant substances in cigarettes) do. In addition to this, many experts argue that psychological addiction – the very habit of holding a cigarette in your hand or mouth – is just as problematic as physical one.

Nicotine replacement therapies act on both of these statements. On one hand, while using NRTs you will still be exposed to the substance that is at the root of addiction associated with smoking, but you will eliminate a much greater number of other harmful compounds which are non-addictive but can cause even more severe damage to your health.

At the same time, NRTs will release lower doses of nicotine into the body to alleviate cravings, thus helping you deal with the psychological aspects of the addiction. Once you get rid of the habit of holding or lighting up a cigarette, it will be significantly easier to deal with the physical addiction.

Nicotine replacement therapies are available in numerous forms including:

  • Nicotine patches
  • Nicotine gums
  • Nicotine lozenges
  • Nasal spray
  • Inhalators
  • Microtabs

The treatment with NRTs usually lasts somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks. During this period, you will slowly decrease the amount of nicotine consumed, until completely giving up on your preferred NRT method by the end of the treatment. Your doctor, pharmacist or a local stop smoking support group can provide you with more info on which administration method might be the best one for you personally.

E-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes, more commonly known as e-cigarettes are somewhat controversial since they cannot be classified as treatment in the real sense of that word. The efficiency of e-cigarettes in quitting smoking has been questioned by some and while a significant portion of scientific communities isn’t looking too kindly on e-cigarettes, some studies have concluded that e-cigarettes can indeed help smokers abstain from tobacco use.1

E-cigarettes work by providing the users with a controlled dose of nicotine in the form of vapour which is then inhaled. Similarly to conventional NRTs, this will allow the user to get the ‘nicotine fix’ while avoiding other harmful substances found in conventional cigarette smoke.

However, while they are less harmful than tobacco according to Public Health England2, electronic cigarettes contribute to both physical and psychological addiction which is why there is still no consensus in the medical community regarding their efficiency.

Quitting smoking cold turkey

Quitting smoking without the use of any smoking cessation treatments or aid is colloquially known as quitting ‘cold-turkey’. As opposed to other approaches discussed here, quitting cold turkey is a stop smoking method that is based on willpower alone and requires no prescription or OTC treatments or aids. However, on the other hand, it does require the person involved to get personally prepared for the cravings and nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Some of the tips usually given to those trying to quit cold turkey include:

  • Avoid situations where you used to smoke
  • Change your routine
  • Get support from a family member or a friend
  • Save money you would spend on cigarettes for a ‘reward’ once you successfully stop

While many of those who try to quit cold turkey do manage to get rid of their bad habit for good, stopping smoking without aids can be tough, so not everyone can be successful in this. According to NHS, obtaining some kind of smoking cessation aid can make you as much as four times more likely to successfully quit smoking.

References:

  1. Electronic Cigarette Use: Effectiveness and Safety at 24 months – BMJ Journals
  2. E-Cigarettes are 95% Less Harmful than Tobacco – PHE