Nicotine Dependence Clinic
Nicotine Dependence Clinic
Patients meeting the following conditions can undergo smoking cessation treatment covered by health insurance.
- A score of 5 or more on the Test for Nicotine Dependence
- Number of cigarettes smoked per day × years of tobacco use of ≥ 200
- The personal desire to quit smoking
- Having provided written consent to undergo smoking cessation therapy
People who cannot quit smoking are assumed to be addicted to nicotine. At the Nicotine Dependence Clinic, supplementary drugs are used to help decrease withdrawal symptoms that may appear during the initial withdrawal of nicotine. Champix® is an oral quit-smoking prescription drug that does not include nicotine, while nicotine-containing prescription patches represent another therapeutical method. Treatment is chosen to suit each individual patient’s situation, and is intended to assist patients through successful smoking cessation.
A Smoking Cessation course based on oral Champix® usually takes 12 weeks during which time patients have to visit the hospital at least 5 times. Smoking Cessation programs based on nicotine patches usually take 8 weeks and patients have to visit the hospital at least 5 times during this period. It is reported that 80% to 90% of patients who follow the full course of 5 hospital visits properly can successfully quit smoking over a smoking cessation period of longer than 4 weeks.
At this hospital the first appointment of a smoking cessation course must be made on a Wednesday afternoon, but if it is impossible for you to meet this schedule, another time can be arranged privately. Please feel free to contact us.
