Finally smoke-free: quitting smoking with a medical plan

The doctor's appointment costs €59 online and at the practice, with the initial and follow-up consultation at the same price. There is no subscription and there are no hidden fees. You pay for medications or nicotine replacement separately at the normal pharmacy price.

Yes. The video consultation works across Germany; you only need a smartphone or a laptop with a camera. If suitable, a prescription goes to the pharmacy of your choice, where you collect the medication or have it delivered to your home. If you prefer personal contact, come to the practice in Munich.

If a medication makes medical sense and is suitable for you, yes. In the consultation the doctor checks pre-existing conditions, other medications and your dependence and then decides with you on a medication or nicotine replacement. There is no promise of a particular medication in advance, that would not be reputable.

That depends on your dependence. Nicotine replacement is available without a prescription, is well tolerated and eases withdrawal, especially as a combination of a patch with gum or spray. With stronger dependence, a prescription-only medication may also be an option. The doctor works out with you what suits how much you smoke.

The acute phase with irritability, restlessness and strong cravings is usually considerably weaker after two to four weeks, and the first few days are the hardest. Individual bouts of craving can still occur later, but they only last a few minutes. Medications and nicotine replacement can cushion exactly this phase, and your plan gives you concrete alternative actions for such moments.

Then the plan has not failed, it is adjusted. Relapses are part of a dependence and are no reason for shame. In the follow-up appointment the doctor looks with you at what triggered the relapse and adjusts the strategy or the medication. Many people only manage to quit for good on the second or third attempt.

Cureal is a private medical consultation, so you pay for the appointment yourself. Certified courses and apps can be reimbursed in full or in part depending on your health insurer, which you clarify directly with your insurer. Whether and how the two can sensibly be combined is something you discuss in the appointment.

Yes, and often that even makes sense. Apps give structure, courses give a group, and free offerings such as rauchfrei-info.de provide good everyday tips. What none of these offerings does: the medical review of which medications are safe and sensible for you. That is exactly the building block Cureal adds.

Yes, precisely then. Failed attempts usually do not show a lack of will but that willpower alone is often not enough against a physical dependence. With medication reviewed by a doctor, a plan for your concrete triggers and a follow-up appointment you change exactly the conditions that were the problem before.

Yes. With e-cigarettes and vapes too, nicotine is the addictive substance and the dependence works in a similar way. The doctor discusses with you how high your nicotine intake actually is and which exit route suits, from nicotine replacement with a decreasing dose through to medication support.