Tabagismo - Tratamento em Lisboa

SMOKING - Treatment in Lisbon

Specialised assessment and clinical treatment for Smoking Cessation in Lisbon

WHAT IS SMOKING?

Tratamento neurobiológico para o tabagismo e dependência — NeuroPsyque Lisboa

Chronic chemical dependency

Smoking is not just a "bad habit", but a chronic disease characterised by chemical and psychological dependence on nicotine. Nicotine reaches the brain in seconds, altering reward pathways and releasing dopamine. It is this change in brain chemistry that makes smoking cessation such a complex challenge.

Most common manifestations

Craving
Intense, sudden and almost uncontrollable desire to smoke a cigarette.
Abstinence Symptoms
Irritability, deep anxiety, insomnia, headaches and difficulty concentrating when trying to stop.
Tolerance
The need to smoke increasing amounts over time to get the same relief or reward effect.
Automation and Triggers
Smoking is strongly associated with daily routines (such as drinking coffee, driving or moments of stress).

MECHANISMS AND FACTORS OF ADDICTION

Physiological dependence

Nicotine is a neurostimulant, promoting the release of dopamine (the hormone responsible for motivation and agency) and causing a cycle of immediate reward and neuronal habituation. Once addicted, the body no longer knows how to function properly in the absence of the substance.

Chemist

Behavioural conditioning

The repeated association of cigarettes with daily routines (after meals, with coffee or driving), making the act mechanical and automatic Dependence is not just chemical, but emotional and "ritualistic".

Behavioural

Emotional triggers

The use of tobacco as an artificial compensation mechanism: to regulate stress, relieve anxiety, boredom or even sadness.

Psychological

Social Factors

Exposure in work contexts or living in environments where smoking is normalised, facilitating both initiation and relapse.

Environmental

Mecanismos da dependência de nicotina no sistema nervoso

Tobacco addiction is a complex interaction between neurobiological, psychological and behavioural factors.

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EFFECTIVENESS IN THE TREATMENT OF SMOKING CESSATION

Consistent clinical results with advanced neuromodulation and integrated medical follow-up

50%

breaking the uncontrollable urge to smoke with mild brain stimulation (tDCS). Fewer anxiety spikes mean you don't wake up immediately thinking about your first cigarette.

60%

rapid relief from nervousness and irritability. Magnetic Stimulation (EMT) helps you get through the critical initial weeks without the usual suffering and bad mood of withdrawal.

easier to break the addiction for good by combining it with Magnetic Stimulation (EMT). Instead of fighting with willpower alone, the treatment calms physical dependence in the brain.

90%

of patients experience a dramatic increase in energy and breath within the first 3 months. The end of chronic tiredness when climbing stairs and the return of taste transform daily well-being.

* Tobacco addiction is a physical alteration of the brain. Sustainable recovery requires curbing the nicotine reward pathways to avoid emotional distress.

Sources: clinical data, tDCS clinical trial on reducing tobacco consumption (Frontiers, 2018); Multicentre Study and FDA Approval for EMT in Smoking Cessation (World Psychiatry, 2021); Impact of cessation on energy and lung function (WHO).

CLINICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

Impacto da nicotina no cérebro e vias de recompensa

Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana (EMT) para redução da Fissura (Craving)

tDCS na modulação de comportamentos viciantes

Acupuntura e Relaxamento para controlo da ansiedade

tDCS - Estimulação Eléctrica Transcraniana

Salas de Terapia e Acompanhamento Psicológico

Espaço Clínico NeuroPsyque - Ambiente Seguro

THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING SPECIALISED HELP

When the habit is deeply rooted, quitting smoking using "willpower" alone tends to result in frequent relapses, not because of a lack of character, but because of the intense neurobiological changes caused by nicotine dependence. A properly structured medical approach is essential to minimise the physical suffering of withdrawal and the psychological impact of giving up an ingrained habit.

💡 Quitting smoking is not just a question of choosing a moment, but of clinically treating a deep brain dependency.

At NeuroPsyque, we have an integrated Smoking Cessation programme. Our approach combines appropriately adjusted pharmacological therapy, psychological support to change behaviour and, when indicated, advanced neuromodulation protocols (such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) to effectively reduce craving and anxiety symptoms, maximising your chances of definitive success.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's on Smoking Cessation

Is it possible to quit smoking overnight without support?

It is possible, but relapse rates in abrupt cessation without support are extremely high. Structured plans, supported by medicine, reduce the shock to the body and the level of suffering, leading to longer-lasting and more stable results.

I've tried to stop several times and relapsed. Is it worth trying again?

Absolutely. Relapse is often a natural part of the process of quitting a chronic addiction. Each attempt provides additional knowledge about your triggers. Medical counselling focuses precisely on reinforcing these aspects, correcting flaws from previous attempts.

Will I put on weight if I stop smoking?

Nicotine acts as an appetite suppressant and smoking often replaces food intake, so slight weight gain is common. However, by carrying out the process with specialist support, behavioural strategies prevent harmful substitutions for food, effectively controlling weight.

What role does neuromodulation (EMT and tDCS) play in smoking cessation?

A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation have shown strong efficacy in modulating the activity of specific brain areas linked to reward and addiction. By regulating these circuits, EMT drastically reduces the "craving" or urgent desire for tobacco, facilitating the initial phase, which is the most critical of the process.

What medication can be used?

Depending on the clinical assessment, the doctor may prescribe Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches, gum), non-nicotine medications (such as bupropion or cytisine) that reduce withdrawal anxiety, or other approaches tailored to your health profile. The decision is made in coordination with the psychiatrist.

How soon do I start to feel the benefits of quitting?

The benefits begin in just 20 minutes with the normalisation of your heartbeat and blood pressure. Within a few weeks, you'll feel a dramatic improvement in taste, smell and breathing capacity. After a year, your risk of cardiovascular disease is half that of an active smoker. Contact us and take the first step today.