My Quit Journey Eight Weeks Smoke Free with the Varenicline Service

Published: 31/07/25

Eight weeks smoke-free with the help of Varenicline, and I am beginning to notice a real shift. Smoking no longer feels like a constant temptation. That change has come gradually, and it is starting to feel natural thank to the Varenicline service and the team at my local community pharmacy.

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The past few weeks have been about finding balance. Cravings still appear, especially during stressful or quiet moments, but they are easier to manage. I have developed a set of strategies including breathing exercises, short walks, and keeping my hands busy. These help me stay on track.  I have attended my weekly appointments at my local community pharmacy. These regular check-ins have become a reassuring part of my routine. Several members of the pharmacy team have taken part in the carbon monoxide readings and chatted with me in a friendly and supportive way. Although the reading has not dropped further, it has remained consistently within a healthy range of three. That stability has been reassuring and a reminder that progress is not always about dramatic changes, but about maintaining positive habits. 

What has changed most is how I see myself. I am beginning to identify as a non-smoker, not someone trying to quit, but someone who has. That shift is reflected in small moments such as not reacting when others smoke nearby, not reaching for a cigarette when stressed, and no longer needing to explain myself.  There are still moments of temptation, but I have learned to pause and make a different choice. Each time I do, it strengthens the new path I am on. 

I am grateful for the support that has helped me reach this point. Varenicline has played its part, but so have the regular check-ins and consistent encouragement from my local community pharmacy team. 

Eight weeks in, and I am no longer counting the days. I am simply living, and that feels good. 

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