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How does the Nicorette Inhaler work?
Is the Nicorette Inhaler right for me?
Does Nicorette Inhaler have any side effects?
How long should I use the Nicorette Inhaler?
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How does the Nicorette Inhaler work?

Firstly, let us describe the appearance of the inhaler so you know what we are dealing with. The Nicorette Inhaler consists of a plastic outer tube, or mouthpiece, and a nicotine plug, or cartridge, which is loaded inside. The nicotine cartridge is packaged in a transparent tube sealed at the ends by aluminium foil. You can get refill cartridges for the inhaler separately so you do not have to buy a new plastic mouthpiece each time. The inhaler mouthpiece comes in two parts. These are separated and a nicotine cartridge is inserted in the middle. The mouthpiece is reassembled taking care to align the two marks on the outside of the mouthpiece together. This breaks the aluminium seal on both ends of the nicotine cartridge. The inhaler is now ready to use and the cartridge should be used within the next twelve hours or so. To seal the mouthpiece of the Nicorette Inhaler in between use you need to turn the two pieces of the inhaler in opposite directions so that they are no longer aligned.

To use the Nicorette Inhaler you puff on it like a cigarette. You can control the amount of nicotine that you get by changing how you puff on it. You can deeply inhale like you would smoking a cigarette or use more shallow puffs if you are used to smoking cigars. As you do so, nicotine is vaporized and becomes absorbed through the mucus membranes lining the mouth. You will also be able to taste the familiar menthol taste that has been added to the nicotine cartridge. The amount of nicotine you get is less than you would receive from a cigarette, approximately one-third. The inhaler does not contain the other carcinogens and toxins that are so harmful to your body. Soft drinks, coffee, tea, fruit juice and other acidic beverages can adversely affect how you absorb the nicotine so you should avoid drinking them fifteen minutes before using the Nicorette Inhaler.

The Nicorette Inhaler cartridge contains 10 milligrams (mg) of nicotine. When the inhaler is used continuously over twenty minutes it releases up to 40%, or 4mg, of the cartridge's total amount of nicotine. Of this delivered amount, about 50%, or 2mg, is absorbed systemically. The nicotine plasma concentrations achieved are about one third of those experienced when smoking a cigarette, and is similar to the effect of chewing one piece of 2mg Nicorette Gum hourly. The maximum plasma levels are not achieved until about 15 minutes after the 20 minutes of continuous puffing had ceased.

Is the Nicorette Inhaler right for me?

Adults under 18 years of age and children should not use the Nicorette Inhaler. You should not use Nicorette Inhaler if you are a non-smoker. It is not for use by those who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, because of the potential risk to the foetus. Because nicotine passes into breast milk, the inhaler is not to be used by those who are breast-feeding. If you have recently had a stroke or heart attack, or suffer from heart disease, including palpitations and uncontrolled angina, then you should not use the Nicorette Inhaler. The inhaler is not suitable for use by people who are allergic to nicotine or sensitive to menthol.

You are not to continue to smoke while using the Nicorette Inhaler. Doing so carries a slight risk of an overdose of nicotine, or even poisoning. Symptoms of a nicotine overdose include nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, an irregular pulse or abdominal pain.

The Nicorette Inhaler should be used with caution if you have asthma or chronic throat diseases. Caution should also be taken if you have gastritis, duodenal or gastric ulcers because of the effects that nicotine can have on the stomach. If you have an irregular heartbeat, hypertension, or peripheral vascular disease then caution is also required. This is because of the tendency of nicotine to increase blood pressure and impair the cardiovascular system by constricting the blood vessels. Using the Nicorette Inhaler may have a detrimental effect if you already suffer from kidney or liver disease. If you have hyperthyroidism, phaeochromocytoma or diabetes, then caution is also advised. If you are taking other medications and you are unsure of what effect these will have when used in conjunction with the Nicorette Inhaler then you should consult your doctor or pharmacist.

The Nicorette Inhaler is a good choice for those with dentures or dental bridgework because, unlike NRT gum, there is no risk of damaging them. The inhaler helps smokers if they still have the urge to put something in their mouth. Some smokers turn to food to satisfy this urge and this is part of the 'weight gain once you stop smoking' equation. Be aware that using the inhaler in public can attract attention because people may not know what it is you are puffing on. This is worth consideration if you are a particularly self-conscious person.

Does Nicorette Inhaler have any side effects?

If you do experience side effects they are most likely to occur early in the treatment. The most common side effects when using the Nicorette Inhaler is a slight cough or irritation of the mouth and throat. The mouth is now the area utilized for the absorption of nicotine and it may take time to get used to this. These symptoms should become reduced over the first three weeks of use. Other possible side effects include a headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sinusitis, mouth ulcers, an upset stomach and hiccups. While none of these is likely to be serious, if they persist or you are concerned about them, you should consult you doctor or pharmacist. Remember that symptoms such as headaches, nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness and weakness are also signs of nicotine overdose. Symptoms such as headaches, lethargy or dizziness, however, can also be indictors of nicotine withdrawal due to your body experiencing a reduction in the levels of nicotine present in your system.

How long should I use the Nicorette Inhaler?

The Nicorette Inhaler is intended to be used for a period of at least three months in order to give you the best chance to quit smoking. If you stop using the inhaler before the 12 weeks are up you will still find your body craving nicotine and may still experience the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. It is during this time that you are most likely to start smoking again. It does, however, depend on the individual. The more you used to smoke during a day then the greater your chances of experiencing symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

You should use the inhaler whenever you feel the urge to smoke. In this regard, you can puff on the inhaler the same way that you would a cigarette. To work out how many cartridges you will need, you can use the rough guide of one inhaler cartridge being the equivalent of four cigarettes. So if you would normally smoke 20 cigarettes a day then you would probably require about 6 cartridges per day.

After about 20 twenty minutes of use, either with deep inhalation or shallow puffing, you will have used up all the nicotine in the cartridge and it should be replaced. Broken down into approximate totals, this is the equivalent of about 80 deep inhalations or 300 shallow puffs. There is no point in continuing to use the cartridge after all the nicotine is gone because you will not derive any real benefit from it. Not that you are expected to worry about counting each puff. Most users who have successfully quit smoking have averaged about 6 to 12 cartridges a day. You can expect to feel relief from nicotine cravings around half an hour after you start an inhaler session.

A recommended programme for Nicorette Inhalers lasts around 18 to 20 weeks. In the first 12 weeks, when you will experience the most pronounced symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, you would be expected to use between 6 and 12 cartridges a day. In weeks 13 and 14 this can be reduced to about 3 to 6 cartridges per day. For weeks 15 and 16, only using around 1 to 3 cartridges is a realistic target. Then in weeks 16 and 18 you can reduce the number of cartridges used to only 1 or 2. It may take you a longer or shorter time until you feel you can comfortably stop using the inhaler. Once you have the number of cartridges used down to 1 or 2 a day you are probably ready to stop using the Nicorette Inhaler. You should be able to stop using the Nicorette Inhaler after 6 months of use but you may feel confident of doing so before this time.

The Nicorette Inhaler is not intended for use longer than six months of treatment but some heavy smokers may require further use of the inhaler. This is certainly preferable to them relapsing into smoking again but they should check with their doctor or pharmacist if they have any concerns regarding the extended use of the inhaler. Only they can advise you whether the benefits of stopping smoking outweighs the risks, if any, from prolonged use of the Nicorette Inhaler. It is generally not recommended that the inhaler be used for more than 12 months but your health professional will be able to give you advise tailored to your individual needs. Remember that the guide outlined above is only that - a guide. The dosage that best suits each individual will vary depending on many factors, including the nicotine intake they have conditioned their body to expect. You may find that using the inhaler intensively for 5 minutes at a time is the most beneficial, meaning that you get 4 uses out of each inhaler cartridge. Once you have tried the inhaler a few times you will discover what works best for you. You should not use more than 16 inhaler cartridges a day unless you are directed to do so by your doctor.

The Nicorette Inhaler can be used on a temporary basis, during any period requiring an abstinence from smoking. For example, a long-haul flight. It is suitable for times were you must remain in a non-smoking area or in a situation where you must refrain from smoking.

Although you should not smoke and use the Nicorette Inhaler at the same time, you can use the inhaler to reduce the amount that you smoke. This is done by using the inhaler between smoking episodes with the intension of reducing the amount you smoke when you do resume. If you have not seen a reduction in the amount that you smoke after 6 weeks of using an inhaler you should see you doctor or pharmacist.