Several treatments have been developed to treat smoking addiction, many of which have been found to be effective in combination.

Deep TMS: Deep TMS is the only non-invasive medical device FDA-cleared for short-term smoking cessation.
It uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate neurons in the bilateral insula and prefrontal cortex, reducing tobacco cravings and increasing cognitive control. A double-blind, multicenter, randomized, controlled pivotal study of 262 subjects demonstrated a significant improvement in the continuous quit rate, as well as a substantial reduction in cravings and number of cigarettes smoked. Deep TMS has been shown to be well-tolerated, causing no systemic side effects, and can easily be incorporated into the patient’s daily routine.

Psychopharmacology: Two medications, Bupropion (Zyban) and Varenicline (Chantix), over a 7-12 week course of treatment, have been FDA-approved to treat smoking addiction. Bupropion inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine, thereby increasing their synaptic availability, while Varenicline blocks nicotine receptors. Medication for smoking cessation present potential side effects, including nausea, sleeplessness, and rare seizures, particularly for patients who drink alcohol while taking the drug.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy: A variety of over-the-counter NRTs are available, includes gums, sprays, patches, and lozenges. These treatments provide small amounts of nicotine, helping the quitting smoker cut down on cravings and ease symptoms of withdrawal. NRTs have been shown to be more effective when paired with counseling programs.
Possible side effects include skin irritation, dizziness, headache, racing heartbeat, and rarely nicotine overdose.

Psychotherapy: Counseling helps smokers develop the skills, behavioral and mental patterns needed to cease addiction to tobacco. Several forms of psychotherapy have been shown in clinical studies to be effective for smoking addiction.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps smokers identify triggers and teaches coping strategies when presented with those triggers. Motivational Interviewing (MI) helps smokers understand their reluctance to quit and improves motivation to live a healthy lifestyle. Mindfulness teaches smokers to become aware of cravings and reframe them as tolerable.

Lifestyle Changes to Protect Against Smoking Addiction: In addiction to medical treatments, improvements to diet, exercise, and avoiding smokers have been shown to contribute to cessation. Note that e-cigarettes have not been proven to be safe or effective for smoking cessation, and patients attempting to quit should avoid substituting other forms of tobacco.