Smoking Cessation
Smoking Cessation Treatment
Do you want to quit smoking but find it difficult to succeed?
While many recognize the risks associated with smoking, nicotine addiction often makes it extremely challenging to quit on one’s own. This is the current reality for many people.
Additionally, due to the discontinuation of the smoking cessation medication “Champix,” clinics offering smoking cessation treatments have become very limited.
We provide two types of smoking cessation treatments, and consultations are always available.
Note that smoking cessation treatment is not covered by Japanese Natoinal Health Insurance.
The Risks of Smoking
Smoking is known to be a major cause of numerous diseases, including hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, lung cancer and various other types of cancer.
Recent studies have shown that smoking increases the risk of dementia by 2 to 3 times, and it is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, both of which are common in Japan.
Smokers are also at a higher risk of stroke, fractures, and requiring long-term care in the future.
On the other hand, quitting smoking is acknowledged to be extremely difficult.
Nicotine, a substance found in tobacco, binds to nicotine receptors in the brain, releasing a large amount of dopamine, which induces a temporary feeling of euphoria. However, when the nicotine level in the body drops, withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and restlessness appear.
To alleviate these withdrawal symptoms, individuals often find themselves smoking again to feel calm, leading to nicotine addiction and continued smoking.
Benefits of Smoking Cessation Treatment
Undergoing smoking cessation treatment offers three major benefits:
Smoking cessation lowers the risk of various diseases caused by smoking, including cancer, lifestyle diseases, and dementia.
Smoking cessation treatment has a success rate of approximately 65% when the treatment period prescribed for each medication is followed. We recommend Varenismart, the generic version of Champix.
If you smoke one pack per day at 550 JPY per pack, you spend approximately 200,000 JPY annually on cigarettes.
For example, quitting smoking for five years could save you 1,000,000 JPY.
We offer smoking cessation treatment starting at approximately 450 JPY per day.
Affordable 2-week and 4-week packages are also available.
Types of Smoking Cessation Treatment
We offer two types of smoking cessation treatments.
We recommend Varenismart, known for its excellent treatment outcomes.
For those who succeed in quitting smoking within 12 weeks, continuing the medication for an additional 12 weeks is known to further improve long-term success rates.
| Medication | Varenismart (Generic Champix) | Nicotinell TTS |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Non-nicotine medication (oral) | Nicotine medication (patch) |
| Mechanism | Acts on nicotine receptors to suppress withdrawal symptoms and reduce the satisfaction of smoking. | Slowly absorbs nicotine through the skin to temporarily alleviate withdrawal symptoms. |
| Success Rate | Approximately 65% | Approximately 53% |
| Treatment Duration | 12-24 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Usage | Days 1-3: 0.5mg once daily Days 4-7: 0.5mg twice daily Day 8 to end: 1mg twice daily | Weeks 1-4: 30mg once daily Weeks 5-6: 20mg once daily Weeks 7-8: 10mg once daily |
| Side Effects | Mild nausea and drowsiness | Insomnia and contact dermatitis |
Costs of Smoking Cessation Treatment
The costs and details of each treatment are outlined in the table below.
We provide smoking cessation treatment as a private medical service.
While the initial consultation incurs a fee, medications can be prescribed without additional consultations from the second visit onward.
| Medication | Package | Duration (weeks) | Price (JPY/incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varenismart (Generic Champix) | Premium Package | 24 | 77,000 |
| Basic Package | 12 | 40,000 | |
| Initial Package* | 4 | 15,000 | |
| Continuation Package* | 8 | 28,000 | |
| Nicotinell TTS | Basic Package | 8 | 35,000 |
| Initial Package* | 2 | 10,000 | |
| Continuation Package* | 6 | 28,000 |
*The initial package is designed to allow patients to start with a smaller quantity while monitoring for side effects. For continued treatment, please purchase the continuation package.
Smoking Cessation Treatment with Insurance
Treatment with Nicotinell TTS may be covered by insurance for eligible individuals who meet specific conditions.
Please consult directly with your doctor to determine eligibility, as insurance-covered smoking cessation treatment comes with various restrictions.
Varenismart is not eligible for insurance-covered treatment.
Only individuals meeting all the following criteria are eligible for insurance-covered smoking cessation treatment with Nicotinell TTS:
– No history of insurance-covered smoking cessation treatment in the past year
– A score of 5 or higher on the nicotine dependency test
– Smoking index (daily cigarette count multiplied by the years of smoking) of 200 or higher (applicable only to those aged 35 and older)
– A strong determination to quit smoking immediately
– Written consent to undergo all five sessions (12 weeks) of smoking cessation treatment
| Private Medical Smoking Cessation |
Insurance-Covered Smoking Cessation |
|
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Only for the initial visit | All five visits 12 weeks of appointments required |
| Cost | From 10,000 JPY (incl. tax) |
Approximately 13,000 JPY* (incl. tax, 30% copay) |
| Medication | Varenismart Nicotinell TTS |
Nicotinell TTS only |
| Prescription | Issued in-house (can be completed in one visit) |
Picked up at a pharmacy (prescription issued at each visit) |
| Conditions | No specific restrictions | Various restrictions apply (see above) |
*Includes payment at dispensing pharmacies.
Flow of Consultation
The consultation process for prescribing smoking cessation medications at our clinic is as follows:
[For Private Medical Treatment]
Doctor’s Consultation and Examination
The doctor will discuss and evaluate the suitable medication for you.
Prescription and Payment
The smoking cessation medication will be provided at the reception. While the initial visit incurs a consultation fee, from the second visit onward, prescriptions are issued without additional consultation or fees.
[For Insurance-Covered Treatment]
Only those who can complete all the scheduled appointments below are eligible.
Doctor’s Consultation and Examination
The doctor will review your treatment history and conduct an examination to determine insurance eligibility.
Prescription and Payment
During the first visit, the doctor and the patient will set the quit date.
Two Weeks After the Quit Date
The doctor will conduct a follow-up consultation to continue treatment.
Four Weeks After the Quit Date
The doctor will conduct a follow-up consultation to continue treatment.
Eight Weeks After the Quit Date
The doctor will conduct a follow-up consultation. While no further prescriptions are issued beyond the 8th week, consultations are mandatory for insurance-covered treatments.
Twelve Weeks After the Quit Date
The doctor will evaluate the success of the smoking cessation treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varenismart (Generic Champix) eligible for insurance-covered treatment?
Varenismart, an overseas generic medication, is not eligible for insurance coverage. The original branded medication, Champix, is no longer available due to discontinuation. As a result, we have adopted generic alternatives that are proven safe and effective.
Why was Champix discontinued in Japan?
Pfizer’s varenicline (Champix) production was halted due to the detection of “N-nitroso-varenicline” above acceptable levels. However, Varenismart, the generic medication we provide, has been confirmed safe for use.
I completed 12 weeks of Varenismart but worry about staying smoke-free. Can I continue treatment?
For patients who quit smoking within 12 weeks, continuing Varenismart for an additional 12 weeks has been shown to improve long-term success rates. We recommend a 24-week treatment plan.