Stop Smoking Service in Holborn, London — from £49.99
Ways Pharmacy offers a private stop smoking service for adults who want to quit, combining a pharmacist consultation, a quit plan and, where suitable, a stop smoking medicine. We are a GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1, around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. Consultations can be done online by phone or video, or in person, in English or Chinese (中文). Medicines are posted from Holborn or ready to collect. A medicine is supplied only if the pharmacist confirms it is suitable for you.
Stop smoking service at a glance
| Treatment options | Varenicline, cytisinicline (cytisine) or bupropion (Zyban), plus nicotine replacement products — as agreed with the pharmacist |
|---|---|
| Price | Varenicline from £49.99 per 2 weeks · cytisinicline £149.99 per 25-day course · bupropion price confirmed at consultation |
| Who it is for | Adults aged 18 and over who smoke and are ready to set a quit date and follow a quit plan |
| How it works | Online questionnaire and ID check, then a phone or video consultation; follow-up reviews before each new supply |
| Pharmacist assessment | Always required, including questions about your mental health, medicines and medical history |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start your free online assessment or call 020 8106 7084.
If the medicine you choose is not suitable for you, the pharmacist may suggest another option; you only pay once a suitable treatment is confirmed.
Treatment options and prices
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varenicline 0.5mg / 1mg tablets | Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms and makes smoking less satisfying. You start 1 to 2 weeks before your quit date; the usual course is 12 weeks. Generally the first choice under our service. | £49.99 (2-week starter or maintenance supply) · £89.99 (4-week maintenance supply) | Varenicline |
| Cytisinicline (cytisine) 1.5mg tablets | A plant-derived medicine that works in a similar way to varenicline, taken on a reducing schedule over 25 days | £149.99 | Cytisinicline |
| Bupropion (Zyban) 150mg prolonged-release tablets | Started 1 to 2 weeks before your quit date and usually taken for 7 to 9 weeks. Not suitable for people with a history of seizures or eating disorders. | Confirmed at consultation | Bupropion (Zyban) |
| Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) | Patches, gum, lozenges, inhalators and sprays, available without a consultation and often used alongside behavioural support | From £10.99 | Stop smoking products |
Medicines are supplied in stages: usually up to 2 weeks to start, then 2 to 4 weeks at a time after a review with the pharmacist. A full 12-week varenicline course costs around £280 in total at current prices. There is no separate fee for pharmacist consultations or reviews — the price shown is the price of the medicine.
Who can use this service
You may be able to get a stop smoking medicine from us if all of these apply:
- You are aged 18 or over and currently smoke.
- You want to stop smoking and are willing to agree a quit date and follow a quit plan with support.
- You can talk openly with the pharmacist about your health, mental health and medicines.
- You are willing to have follow-up reviews during treatment.
If a medicine is not suitable, nicotine replacement therapy may still be an option, and you can get free support from your local NHS stop smoking service — see NHS Better Health: Quit smoking.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
A stop smoking medicine cannot be supplied through our service, and the pharmacist will refer you to your GP, if any of these apply:
- You have epilepsy or a history of seizures, or a current or past eating disorder.
- You have severe or unstable heart disease, such as a recent heart attack or unstable angina.
- You have severe kidney or liver disease.
- You have a severe or uncontrolled mental health condition, current thoughts of suicide, or significant mood changes that need specialist assessment.
- You are going through alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal.
- You take an MAOI antidepressant (or have done in the last 14 days) or another medicine containing bupropion.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding and a medicine is not appropriate — NRT and support are usually recommended instead.
- You are under 18.
Stop taking your medicine and seek medical help straight away if you notice changes in mood or behaviour, feel depressed or have thoughts of suicide. Call 999 if you have a seizure, chest pain or signs of a serious allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or difficulty breathing.
How it works
- Start your free online assessment. Answer questions about your smoking, previous quit attempts, health, mental health and medicines, and confirm your identity (upload photo ID, or show it on a video call).
- Pharmacist reviews and speaks with you. By phone or video, the pharmacist agrees a quit date and plan with you and decides which treatment, if any, is suitable.
- If suitable, choose and pay. The pharmacist confirms which treatment is suitable; you then order and pay on the product page for that treatment, or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable, including if you are given advice only and no medicine, you pay nothing — the pharmacist explains your other options. If you have already paid and treatment is not suitable, you get a full refund.
- We post your medicine or you collect it. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are posted the same day — see our shipping information for delivery options and costs. You can also collect from our Holborn pharmacy once your order is approved. The pharmacist then reviews your progress, side effects and mood before each further supply.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- A pharmacist-led quit plan with regular check-ins, not just a pack of tablets
- Several medicine options and a full range of NRT under one roof
- Free online assessment — you only pay once the pharmacist confirms a medicine is suitable
- Consultation in Chinese (中文) or English with registered pharmacists
- GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises 9012227), near Holborn and Russell Square stations
Frequently asked questions
How does varenicline work?
Varenicline acts on the nicotine receptors in the brain. It eases cravings and withdrawal symptoms and reduces the satisfaction you get if you do smoke. You start taking it 1 to 2 weeks before your quit date and gradually increase the dose over the first week.
How long is a course of treatment?
Varenicline is usually taken for 12 weeks. Cytisinicline is a 25-day course. Bupropion is usually taken for 7 to 9 weeks. The pharmacist will agree a plan with you and review it as you go.
What are the common side effects?
With varenicline: nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping, unusual dreams and dizziness. With cytisinicline: nausea, dry mouth, headache and sleep problems. With bupropion: difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, headache, agitation and anxiety. Taking varenicline after food with a full glass of water can help with nausea.
Why does the pharmacist ask about my mental health?
Stopping smoking can affect mood, and some stop smoking medicines need extra care in people with a history of depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. The questions help the pharmacist choose the safest option and plan your follow-up.
Can stopping smoking affect my other medicines?
Yes. Smoking changes how the body handles some medicines, including clozapine, olanzapine, theophylline, warfarin and insulin. If you take any of these, tell the pharmacist, as your usual prescriber may need to monitor you or adjust your dose.
Can I drive while taking varenicline?
Varenicline can cause dizziness or sleepiness. If it affects you, do not drive, cycle or operate machinery.
Can I use NRT or e-cigarettes as well?
Tell the pharmacist about any nicotine products you use. They will advise whether to combine them with your treatment as part of your quit plan.
Can I get stop smoking medicine if I am pregnant?
Stop smoking medicines are not usually supplied in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Nicotine replacement therapy and support are generally recommended, and your midwife can refer you to a local stop smoking service.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy. Free support is also available from local NHS stop smoking services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
