Come smettere di fumare
Revisione paritaria di Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP Ultimo aggiornamento di Dr Toni Hazell, MRCGPUltimo aggiornamento 19 maggio 2023
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In questa serie:FumareVantaggi di smettere di fumareFumo passivoLe sigarette elettroniche sono sicure?Terapia sostitutiva della nicotinaBupropione per smettere di fumare
Circa 2 fumatori su 3 vogliono smettere di fumare. Alcune persone riescono a smettere facilmente. La forza di volontà e la determinazione sono gli aspetti più importanti quando si smette di fumare. Tuttavia, la nicotina è una droga che crea dipendenza e molte persone trovano difficile smettere. L'aiuto è disponibile.
At a glance
Stopping smoking can be helped by your GP, practice nurse, or pharmacist.
NHS Stop Smoking Clinics offer support and have good success rates.
Set a quit date and aim to stop completely on that day.
Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms, which usually ease after 2-4 weeks.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and bupropion can increase your chance of quitting.
E-cigarettes may help you stop but should not be used long-term.
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Video picks for Fumare
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Aiuto per smettere di fumare
GPs, practice nurses or pharmacists can provide information, encouragement and tips on stopping smoking. Also, throughout the UK there are specialist NHS 'Stop Smoking Clinics' which have good success in helping people to stop smoking. Your doctor may refer you to one if you are keen to stop smoking..
Below are some tips and brief information about medicines which may help you to quit smoking. For more detailed information, see the separate leaflets called Sigarette elettroniche, Terapia Sostitutiva della Nicotina (TSN), e Bupropione (Zyban).
Consigli per smettere di fumare
Torna ai contenutiScrivi un elenco dei motivi per cui vuoi smettere
Keep them with you. Refer to them when tempted to light up.
Set a quit date
On that date, stop completely. (Some people prefer the idea of cutting down gradually. However, research has shown that if you smoke fewer cigarettes than usual, you are likely to smoke more of each cigarette and nicotine levels remain nearly the same. Therefore, it is usually best to stop once and for all from a set date.)
Dì a tutti che stai smettendo di fumare
Friends and family often give support and may help you. Smoking by others in the household makes giving up harder. If appropriate, try to get other household members who smoke, or friends who smoke, to stop smoking at the same time. A team effort may be easier than going it alone.
Preparati a qualche sintomo di astinenza
Quando smetti di fumare, è probabile che tu abbia sintomi che possono includere nausea (nausea), mal di testa, ansia, irritability, craving, and just feeling awful. These symptoms are caused by the lack of nicotine that your body has been used to. They tend to peak after 12-24 hours and then gradually ease over 2-4 weeks.
Anticipate a cough
It is normal for a smoker's cough to become worse when you stop smoking (as the airways 'come back to life'). Many people say that this makes them feel worse for a while after stopping smoking and makes them tempted to restart smoking. Resist this temptation! The cough usually gradually eases.
Be aware of triggers
In particolare, bere alcol è spesso associato al fallimento nel tentativo di smettere di fumare. Dovresti considerare di non bere molto alcol nelle prime settimane dopo aver smesso di fumare. Prova a cambiare la tua routine per le prime settimane.
For example, despite the UK ban on indoor smoking in pubs, outside the pub might still be a tempting place to drink alcohol and smoke. Also, if drinking tea and coffee are difficult times, try drinking mainly fruit juice and plenty of water instead.
Prendi un giorno alla volta
Mark off each successful smoke-free day on a calendar. Look at it when you feel tempted to smoke, and tell yourself that you don't want to start all over again.
Be positive
You can tell people that you don't smoke. You will smell better. After a few weeks you should feel better, taste your food more and cough less. You will have more money. Perhaps put away the money which you would have spent on cigarettes, to spend on a holiday, physical activity or other treats.
Anticipa un aumento dell'appetito
Alcune persone si preoccupano di aumentare di peso quando smettono di fumare, poiché l'appetito potrebbe migliorare. Prevedi un aumento dell'appetito e cerca di non aumentare il consumo di cibi grassi o zuccherati come spuntini. Prova invece frutta o gomme senza zucchero.
Don't despair if you fail
Esamina le ragioni per cui hai sentito che era più difficile in quel particolare momento. Ti renderà più forte la prossima volta. In media, le persone che alla fine smettono di fumare hanno fatto tre o quattro tentativi precedenti.
Utilizza le cliniche per smettere di fumare
Stop Smoking Clinics are available on the NHS in the UK. They have good success in helping people to stop smoking. Your doctor may refer you to stop smoking services if you are keen to stop smoking but are finding it difficult to do so, and in many areas you can self-refer.
Elimina gli articoli per fumatori
Rimuovi tutti i tuoi posacenere, accendini e sigarette da casa, veicolo e luogo di lavoro in modo che questi oggetti non possano innescare il desiderio di fumare in seguito.
Usa ausili per smettere di fumare
Diversi farmaci possono aumentare le tue possibilità di smettere. Questi includono:
Terapia sostitutiva della nicotina (TSN) which comes as gums, nasal sprays, patches, tablets, lozenges and inhalers. You can buy NRT without a prescription. It greatly increases the chance that you will quit. Most people can use NRT, including adults and children aged over 12, although those aged under 18 should not use lozenges without getting medical advice. It can be used in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as using NRT is less bad for the baby than smoking.
Bupropion (Zyban®) is a medicine which almost doubles your chance of successfully quitting. It was originally an antidepressant.
Sigarette elettroniche are designed to look and feel like normal cigarettes. They have a heating element inside that vaporises a solution - this looks like smoke. It may also contain nicotine. They are substituted for normal cigarettes or cigars, but have risks of their own and should therefore only be used for a short period of time, while you give up cigarettes, rather than as a long-term replacement.
Patient picks for Fumare

Vita sana
Vantaggi di smettere di fumare
Smettere di fumare può fare una grande differenza per la tua salute e il tuo stile di vita. Non è mai troppo tardi per smettere di fumare e trarre grandi benefici per la tua salute. Ad esempio, se smetti di fumare a mezza età, prima di avere un cancro o qualche altra malattia grave, eviti la maggior parte del rischio aumentato di morte dovuto al fumo. È disponibile aiuto se trovi difficile smettere di fumare.
di Dr Toni Hazell, MRCGP

Vita sana
Le sigarette elettroniche sono sicure?
Le sigarette elettroniche sono dispositivi progettati per creare la sensazione di fumare e di solito forniscono una dose di nicotina, senza coinvolgere l'uso del tabacco.
di Dr Jacqueline Payne, FRCGP
Domande frequenti
What kind of support can I expect from healthcare professionals when I decide to quit smoking?
GPs, practice nurses, or pharmacists can offer valuable support, including information, encouragement, and advice. Additionally, the NHS provides specialist 'Stop Smoking Clinics' across the UK, which have a high success rate in helping people quit. Your doctor can refer you to these services, or in some areas, you can refer yourself.
If I can't stop all at once, is cutting down gradually a good alternative?
Research indicates that cutting down gradually is generally less effective than stopping completely on a set date. When you smoke fewer cigarettes, you tend to smoke more of each one, meaning nicotine levels in your body remain almost the same. Therefore, it is usually more successful to quit smoking entirely from a chosen start date.
Will I experience any physical feelings after I stop smoking?
Yes, you might experience several withdrawal symptoms, such as feeling sick (nausea), headaches, anxiety, irritability, and strong cravings. These are due to your body adjusting to the absence of nicotine. Symptoms typically peak within 12-24 hours and then gradually diminish over 2-4 weeks.
Why might my cough get worse after I stop smoking?
It is normal for a smoker's cough to worsen temporarily after quitting. This happens as your airways begin to recover. This can be tempting to give up on quitting, but it's important to resist this urge, as the cough usually improves over time.
What are some common 'triggers' that might make me want to smoke again, and how can I avoid them?
Drinking alcohol is a common trigger that can lead to a relapse. It's advisable to limit your alcohol consumption in the first few weeks after quitting. Additionally, certain routines like drinking tea or coffee can be triggers. You might want to change your routine during this period, perhaps by drinking fruit juice or water instead of tea or coffee, and finding new places to socialise if outdoor areas of pubs trigger the urge to smoke.
What if I try to quit but don't succeed the first time?
Don't be discouraged if your first attempt isn't successful. Many people who eventually quit smoking make multiple attempts, often three or four, before succeeding. Each attempt provides an opportunity to understand what made it difficult, strengthening your resolve for the next try.
Are there different kinds of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and can anyone use them?
Yes, NRT comes in various forms like gums, nasal sprays, patches, tablets, lozenges, and inhalers, and you can buy them without a prescription. Most people, including adults and children over 12, can use NRT. It's generally considered safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women as well, as using NRT is less harmful to the baby than continuing to smoke.
Ulteriori letture e riferimenti
- Hughes JR, Stead LF, Hartmann-Boyce J, et al; Antidepressivi per la cessazione del fumo. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 8 gennaio 2014;1:CD000031. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000031.pub4.
- Wu J, Sin DD; Miglioramento dei risultati per i pazienti con la cessazione del fumo: quando è troppo tardi? Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2011;6:259-67. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S10771. Epub 2011 May 2.
- Hackshaw A, Morris JK, Boniface S, et al; Basso consumo di sigarette e rischio di malattia coronarica e ictus: meta-analisi di 141 studi di coorte in 55 rapporti di studio. BMJ. 24 gennaio 2018;360:j5855.
- Reid RD, Pritchard G, Walker K, et al; Gestione della cessazione del fumo. CMAJ. 6 Dic 2016;188(17-18):E484-E492. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.151510. Pubblicato online il 3 Ott 2016.
- Champix: Sistema di Allerta Centrale del NHS; Agenzia regolatoria per i medicinali e i prodotti sanitari
- Tabacco: prevenire l'uso, promuovere la cessazione e trattare la dipendenza; Linee guida NICE (2021 - ultimo aggiornamento febbraio 2025)
- Hartmann-Boyce J, McRobbie H, Butler AR, et al; Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 14;9:CD010216. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub6.
- Cessazione del fumo; NICE CKS, aprile 2023 (accesso solo Regno Unito)
- Nicotine vaping in England: 2022 evidence update main findings; Office for Health Improvement and Disparities 2022
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About the authorView full bio

Dr Toni Hazell, MRCGP
MBBS, BSc, MRCGP, DFSRH, Dip GU med, DRCOG, DCH (London, UK, 2000)
Dr. Toni Hazell qualified from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School and did her VTS at Northwick Park Hospital.
About the reviewerView full bio

Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP
Medico di base, Autore medico
MBChB (1992), DRCOG, DFFP, MRCOG (Part 1) MRCGP (2007), DFSRH (2013), MSc - medical education (2020)
Dr Hayley Willacy was an NHS GP working in northwest England, who retired from clinical practice in 2022 after 30 years.
Storia dell'articolo
Le informazioni su questa pagina sono scritte e revisionate da clinici qualificati.
Prossima revisione prevista: 12 maggio 2028
19 maggio 2023 | Ultima versione

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