If you're reading this, you probably already know you want to quit. You've thought about it. Maybe you've tried before. The question isn't motivation — it's method. And in 2026, you have better options than any previous generation of smokers. Most people still don't use them.
Your options, ranked honestly
Cold turkey
The most common approach — and the least effective. Stopping all at once with no medication or nicotine support. Most people fail within two weeks.
✗ 3–5% success at one year · Not recommended as a standalone approach
Nicotine replacement therapy
Patches, gum, lozenges. Available over the counter. A real step up from cold turkey — roughly double the success rate — but doesn't address the neurological reward cycle.
~ ~10% success at one year · Good start, not the ceiling
Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
An antidepressant that also reduces nicotine cravings. Requires a prescription. More effective than NRT — but not as effective as varenicline.
~ ~15–20% success · Good for dual nicotine + depression treatment
Varenicline — generic ChantixBest evidence
The most effective medication available. Partially blocks and activates nicotine receptors — reducing cravings while blunting any reward from slipping up. FDA-approved 2006. Black box warning removed 2016. WHO Essential Medicines list since 2021.
✓ 44% abstinence at 12 weeks · 3× better than NRT · 2× better than bupropion
The numbers speak for themselves
12-week abstinence rates · Published clinical trials
Varenicline (Respiro)
44%
Nicotine patches / gum
16%
The method that's changed everything
For most of the past two decades, getting a varenicline prescription meant scheduling a doctor's appointment, taking time off work, sitting in a waiting room. That friction kept a lot of people from getting the most effective treatment available.
Telehealth has removed that barrier entirely. In 2026, you can complete an online intake form, have a licensed physician review your information asynchronously — no video call, no phone call — and receive a prescription shipped directly to your door.
"The medication exists. The evidence is overwhelming. The only thing standing between most people and quitting is access."
A practical plan for quitting
01
Set a quit date two weeks out
Gives you time to get medication in hand before you stop. Most people find the quit date becomes obvious once cravings fade in week one or two on medication.
02
Get varenicline via telehealth
No appointment. Complete an intake form, physician reviews within 24 hours, varenicline shipped to your door.
03
Start medication one week before your quit date
Standard protocol — you begin taking it while still smoking. The medication works in the background as your cravings diminish.
04
Complete the 12-week protocol
Most patients notice reduced cravings in week one. The full course gives your brain time to relearn what normal feels like without nicotine.
Ready to actually quit?
Respiro makes it simple.
$75 consultation. Physician review within 24 hours. Varenicline shipped to your door. Full refund if not approved.
Get Early Access — 60 Seconds →
✓ Launching Q2 2026 · All 50 states · No commitment
Respiro is a telehealth platform for nicotine cessation. All prescriptions are reviewed and approved by licensed physicians. Varenicline requires a prescription and may not be appropriate for everyone. Consult a healthcare provider with questions about your specific health situation.