131_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL3zIl2hS-o_smoking cessation
gpt
Good morning. It's really nice that you've come along to see me to talk about stopping smoking.
human
Good morning.
gpt
What have you got in mind, what do you want from us?
human
Well, I need some medication if you can offer me some.
gpt
Absolutely, we're in the right place for that.
human
And, uh, whatever else you can do just to get me to go smoke-free.
gpt
Okay. Well, just remind me again why it is you want to stop.
human
It's, uh, just these days-- I think these days I'm-I'm finding that, um, I'm smoking 20, 30 a day, I'm getting sick of it. It's, you know, I've seen my friends have stopped smoking too and it's kind of they're looking at me weird these days like I'm the only one left who's still smoking.
gpt
Oh, good, and so feeling under pressure here.
human
Especially the other night I was at the restaurant, it was a bit-- you know, it was a bit embarrassing I'm the only one walk walking out.
gpt
And so that-that can't feel a little uncomfortable being by yourself. So that sounds like one of the reasons you have to quit is it's a little getting smelly and it's getting embarrassing.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
Any other reasons?
human
Um, it's expensive these days.
gpt
How much does it actually cost you a week?
human
It's-it's about-- Um, I'll buy and go through a pack a day, so it's almost £7.
gpt
£7 a week or a day?
human
£7 a day today, so-
gpt
So your pack a day—
human
-you're talking about £40, uh—
gpt
£50 a week.
human
£50 a week.
gpt
Even more mess, you see.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Okay. So we're talking about spending £50 a week-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-being one of the few left smoking in your crowd, and not liking the smell. That sounds like three reasons.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
Do you think that's enough to make you say goodbye to cigarettes?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Great, okay. So have you got a date in mind when you'd like to stop smoking?
human
Well, what you do-- What do you suggest?
gpt
Generally, it works well if you find a time when you're not under a huge amount of other stresses and strains.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
What are the main reasons why you actually smoke? What do you enjoy most about it?
human
Um, it's just entertainment. Something, um, when I bored, it's got-- I've got-- I smoke-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-or sometimes I go out, but as I said, I'm the only one kind of outside.
gpt
Okay. What do you think you'll miss most about it?
human
The-- Um, it takes away a lot of my stresses.
gpt
Mm-hmm, what sort of stresses?
human
Just, uh, when I- when I go down, uh, for-for a break at work.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
I never go down, I just need a break away from it all, just shut off. So, uh, I-I really enjoyed that. The cigarette just helps me calm down.
gpt
Yeah. And what is your favorite cigarette of the day?
human
It's definitely the one at the end of the evening.
gpt
Okay, so the end of the day-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-the thing that helps you just unwind, put an end to the work section and move into your own time.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Okay. So after you've had the quit date, what do you think you might do when it it's the first day at work and it's time to go home if you're not gonna have a cigarette?
human
I guess, um, I'll just- I'll just have, you know, some fresh air as well, but this time without a cigarette in my hand but to try and give myself regular breaks maybe, I don't know.
gpt
Okay.
human
It's one of those tough things.
gpt
Have you managed to stop smoking in the past?
human
I've managed for a couple of weeks.
gpt
Okay. And what got you back?
human
It was, um-- To be honest, it was stress from an argument with my partner I remember.
gpt
So something just happened-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-so it took you back into it. All right. Let me just make sure I've understood what's going on here. You really want to stop smoking because you're kind of the last guy in your group still smoking, it costs a lot of money, and you don't really like the smell.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
The main reason that you smoke is because, at the end of the day, it gives you a kind of relaxation, and if there's quite a little stress that's going on which you're using cigarettes to help you cope with.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
What you'd like to do is stop and you'd like to sort of like choose a time to quit when it's going to be there's not as much stress around as possible. When do you think would be a good time for you to choose to be your quit date?
human
I guess, um, at the weekend I've got a party coming up.
gpt
Okay.
human
So, uh, maybe Monday morning.
gpt
So Monday morning after the party will be a good day, and that's next week. Okay. Now, one of the things that we do in the pharmacy is recommend that you use medication to help you. You know this increases your chance of success and it makes it more likely that can manage any cravings that come along. A lot of people like using nicotine replacement therapy which comes in a variety of formats like patches, gum, you've probably seen people using any of these products. And other options are tablets which you can get from the GP.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
So, yeah, again-- Um, so have you something in mind that you might like to use to help you through managing the cravings?
human
Yeah. I'm thinking, um, one of these patches.
gpt
Okay. So a patch is something you've already seen, and-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-and, again, I'll get some out and I'll show you what they look like. This course of medication lasts for 10 to 12 weeks. And we strongly recommend that people stay on the whole course of medication and that that gives you the best chance of success. Stopping smoking is not easy but it's possible and with the type of support that we offer here in the pharmacy, you absolutely make your chance of success four times greater than trying on your own, so, that's why it's really good that you've come to see me. Now, what you said is you really want to do it and that next week sounds like a good day for you to start because the party is over and done with.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
You've got the time at the end of the day when you finish work, which might be the first time you've gone without a cigarette. So, what I'd like to recommend is that you use two products perhaps and I'm thinking of you're having a patch and then suggesting that you might use something that you can top up with. Often, a person who smokes knows exactly what it feels like when they're craving for a cigarette. What does it feel like to you, when you can't have a cigarette and you want one?
human
I just get irritable.
gpt
Okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
And that's exactly one of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal that I'm looking to stop happening to you.
human
Hmm.
gpt
So, I would strongly recommend that you have the patch. I'll talk to you about how to use that and that we have another product that I leave you to use as when any of those feelings of irritation are coming up, particularly in that first week.
human
Okay.
gpt
So, you're happy with the date for [unintelligible 00:06:16]?
human
Yeah, absolutely.
gpt
Okay and would you like to come back and see me again?
human
Well, definitely.
gpt
And what would you like me to do if you don't come back?
human
A nice phone call.
gpt
I'd be very happy to do that.