Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Why stop smoking?

If you have COPD and smoke, you can slow down the damage it does to your lungs if you quit smoking. Everybody's lungs naturally work less well as they get older. But if you have COPD and smoke, too, the extra damage smoking does will make your lungs get worse faster.

If you stop smoking, your lungs will still get weaker, but not as fast as they would if you kept smoking.

Source:
Anthonisen NR, Connett JE, Kiley JP, et al.
Effects of smoking intervention and the use of an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator on the rate of decline of FEV1. The Lung Health Study.
Journal of the American Medical Association. 1994; 272: 1497-1505.

A lot of products are available now that can help you stop smoking:

Nicotine gums and skin patches replace some of the nicotine you miss when you stop smoking. You can buy some of these products in pharmacies and supermarkets
Another treatment that has helped a lot of people is a drug called bupropion (brand name Zyban). You'll need a prescription from your doctor to get this medicine. It doesn't give you any nicotine, but it cuts down your cravings for it.

Source:
Silagy C, Lancaster T, Stead L, et al.
Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Update Software, Oxford, UK.

²

Source:
Hughes JR, Stead LF, Lancaster T.
Antidepressants for smoking cessation (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Update Software, Oxford, UK.

³
Varenicline (brand name Chantix) is a newer drug that aims to help you quit smoking. Research shows that it works, but for some people, it can cause severe mood swings as a side effect.

Source:
British National Formulary.
Varenicline.
Section 4.10. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 28 November 2008).

⁴ In extreme cases, people even get suicidal thoughts.

For more about these treatments and how to quit, see our section on Nicotine addiction.

Sources for the information on this page:

Anthonisen NR, Connett JE, Kiley JP, et al.Effects of smoking intervention and the use of an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator on the rate of decline of FEV1. The Lung Health Study.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1994; 272: 1497-1505.

Silagy C, Lancaster T, Stead L, et al.Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation (Cochrane review).In: The Cochrane Library. Update Software, Oxford, UK.

Hughes JR, Stead LF, Lancaster T.Antidepressants for smoking cessation (Cochrane review).In: The Cochrane Library. Update Software, Oxford, UK.

British National Formulary.Varenicline.Section 4.10. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 28 November 2008).

This information was last updated on Jul 14, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.