Quitting Smoking & Vaping - How Your GP Can Help
Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the best things you can do for your health, and most people who do either of those already know that. The hard part is actually doing it. Nicotine is a powerful addiction whether it comes from a cigarette or a vape, and willpower alone often isn't enough. This is where your GP becomes one of your most valuable allies.
Why Quitting Is So Hard
Smoking and vaping aren’t just habits. They’re a physical dependency on nicotine combined with deeply ingrained routines and triggers. Stress, social situations, coffee, driving, even finishing a meal can all become cues to reach for a vape or cigarette. Nicotine withdrawal can bring irritability, poor concentration, cravings, and low mood, which is why so many people who try to quit "cold turkey" go back within days.
Vaping adds its own challenge. Because a vape is easy to use almost anywhere and there's no ‘pack’ to finish, many people vape more often than they realise across a day, which can make the nicotine dependence just as strong. Some people also started vaping to get off cigarettes and now want to stop vaping too.
Understanding this is important because it means quitting isn't a failure of character when it doesn't work the first time. It's a medical and behavioural challenge, and like most medical challenges, it responds far better to a structured plan than to sheer determination.
How Your GP Can Help
A Personalised Quit Plan
Your GP can look at your history, whether that’s smoking, vaping or both, along with your previous quit attempts and triggers to build a plan tailored to you. This includes setting a realistic quit date, identifying high-risk situations, and putting strategies in place before you need them, rather than scrambling in the moment.
Medication Options
There are several treatments that can significantly improve your chances of quitting for good.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) covers patches, gum, lozenges and sprays. These deliver controlled doses of nicotine without the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, which helps ease withdrawal. NRT can also support people trying to stop vaping.
Prescription medications such as varenicline and bupropion can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, and can reduce the enjoyment of smoking if you slip up. Your GP can talk through whether these suit you based on your health history.
Combination therapy, pairing NRT with a prescription medication, works better than either alone for some people. Your GP can tailor this based on how dependent you are.
A note on vapes and quitting. In Australia, vapes are regulated as therapeutic products and there are strict requirements for ingredients, packaging and labelling to ensure safety and quality standards. Adults aged 18 and over can access therapeutic vapes with a prescription from a doctor, however vapes are not recommended as a first-line treatment for quitting smoking. If you're considering vaping as part of quitting smoking, your GP can talk you through the risks and options and what's appropriate for you.
Ongoing Support and Follow-Up
Quitting isn't a single appointment, it's a process. Regular follow-ups with your GP help keep you accountable, allow for adjustments to medication or strategy, and provide encouragement during difficult weeks. Studies consistently show that people who have regular contact with a health professional during a quit attempt are far more likely to succeed than those going it alone.
Managing Weight Gain and Mood Changes
Two common concerns that stop people from quitting are fear of weight gain and worry about mood swings. Your GP can help you manage both, whether that's practical dietary advice, referral to a dietitian, or simply monitoring your mental health more closely during the process.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
A quit consult at Robina Town Medical Centre typically involves discussing your history with smoking or vaping, your reasons for wanting to quit, and any previous attempts. From there, your GP will talk through the options available and agree on a plan together. It's a judgement-free conversation, the goal is simply to find what will work best for you.
Take the First Step
If you've been thinking about quitting, or you've tried before and it didn't stick, book an appointment with your GP at Robina Town Medical Centre. With the right support, plan, and follow-up, quitting smoking or vaping is often far more achievable with your GP than doing it alone.