Resources - Citidaron

Smoking cessation - A priority in Ireland

Every week, over 100 people die and over 1,000 people are hospitalized
in Ireland from smoking-related illness.¹

Smoking and its effects place a large pressure on healthcare resources.
In 2019, 44,000 hospitalisations were estimated to be attributed to
smoking²

Smoking contributed to²:

20% of respiratory disease hospitalisations
10% of circulatory disease hospitalisations
12% of cancer hospitalisations in 2019

The burden of smoking

Although there was a steady decline in the prevalence of smoking in Ireland from 23% in 2015 to 17% in 2019, this rate has now increased slightly. Across Ireland in 2023, 18% of the population were smokers, with 14% daily smokers and 4% smoked occasionally³

83% of smokers regret starting smoking – they would not smoke if they had the choice again⁴

Smoking can⁵:

Take 10 to 15 quality years off your life
Cause cancer, heart attacks, stroke, lung disease, blindness, diabetes and many other diseases
reduce fertility for both women and men and makes it harder to start a family
Lead to ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and stillbirth if you smoke during pregnancy
Have a negative effect on mental health
Be an expensive habit – smoking 20 cigarettes a day adds up to over €5,000 a year

Benefits of quitting Smoking

1

When people give up smoking, they experience a range of short, medium-term health benefits⁶

2

In a few days, heart rate drops, sense of smell and taste improves, and blood levels of carbon monoxide and oxygen return to normal

3

In a few weeks, their risk of sudden death from a heart attack is reduced, their lung function improves, and they are less short of breath

4

In a few months, their symptoms of chronic bronchitis improve, and they are at reduced risk of ulcers¹

References

HSE (Health Service Executive). Tobacco Free Ireland Annual Report 2022. Available at: https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/tobaccocontrol/tfi-annual-report-2022.pdf [Accessed: July, 2025].
Department of Health. Economic and social cost of smoking in Ireland. Dublin: Department of Health, 2022. Available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5d2c8-economic-and-social-cost-of-smoking-in-ireland/ [Accessed: July, 2025].
Ipsos B&A. (2023) Healthy Ireland survey 2023 – summary report. Dublin: Healthy Ireland, Department of Health. Available at: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/39977/ (Accessed July 2025)
Healthy Ireland Survey 2021. Summary Report. Department of Health, 2021. Available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ef45-healthy-ireland-survey-2021/ [Accessed: July, 2025].
HSE Smoking facts and figures. Availabel at https://www2.hse.ie/living-well/quit-smoking/reasons-to-quit/facts-and-figures/ (Accessed July 2025)
NHS Inform. Benefits of stopping smoking. Available at https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/stopping-smoking/reasons-to-stop/benefits-of-stopping-smoking/. Accessed July 2025.

Safety Profile

Get an overview of the safety data and tolerability of Citidaron.

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Taking Citidaron

See the step-by-step course for taking Citidaron

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Resources for you

Find additional support and information to help your patients succeed

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Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information are available from HPRA Pharmacovigilance on the HPRA website www.hpra.ie. Adverse events should also be reported to Consilient Health at drugsafety@consilienthealth.com or 012057766.

The information on this website is intended for Health Care Professional who practice in the Republic of Ireland only

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IE-CH-1738, September 2025