How do they work? By chewing nicotine gum the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth. When you first stop smoking you should be advised to chew about one piece of gum every hour. Chew the gum until the taste becomes strong or hot – this releases the nicotine. Then rest the gum inside your cheek without chewing it. Once the taste or heat fades start chewing again to release more nicotine. The idea is you should be able to
chew less nicotine gum over time, or use lower-dose gum. You can also try alternating it with a non-nicotine gum.
Lozenges Good for… People who need short bursts of nicotine to relieve cravings.
How do they work? Lozenges work in a similar way to nicotine gum. Initially you should be having a nicotine lozenge every one or two hours, then after six weeks you’ll have one every two to four hours, finally reducing to one every four to eight hours during the last two weeks of your 12-week treatment.
Inhalators Good for… People who miss having a cigarette in their hands (they look like plastic cigarettes). Inhalators also work much more quickly than gum or lozenges.
How do they work? Inhalators release a nicotine vapour into your mouth when you inhale through it (just as you would with a cigarette). The nicotine gets into your bloodstream very quickly, so they’re ideal for coping with cravings. Each inhalator contains a disposable cartridge containing nicotine.
NRT works by giving you some of the nicotine you would get from smoking a cigarette – but without the harmful substances found in tobacco smoke
Nicotine nasal sprays Good for… People who smoke heavily and/or have had difficulty giving up using other methods. Nicotine nasal sprays work really quickly, much faster than gum or lozenges, and produce the same sensation you get from smoking – often called the rush – more than any other form of NRT. For this reason they are ideal for managing cravings. Nicotine sprays are also the strongest form of NRT. There may be side effects, however,
including nose and throat irritation, watering eyes and coughing.
How do they work? By using a nicotine nasal spray you get a fast and effective dose of nicotine delivered to your bloodstream through the lining of your nose. You simply release one spray into each nostril twice an hour, with each dose giving the same amount of nicotine as a single cigarette.
Ideally the spray should be used for a total of 12 weeks.
Microtabs Good for… People who are trying to smoke fewer cigarettes as well as those who have quit completely. After starting on microtabs you should stop smoking within six months.
How do they work? Microtabs are small tablets that dissolve quickly under your tongue, releasing nicotine into your bloodstream. You should take one or two tabs every hour for up to three months after you quit, then cut back on them gradually. When you get to the stage where you’re taking just one or two tabs a day, you should be able to stop altogether.
Extra help from your local pharmacist
According to the NHS Smokefree campaign, you’re four times more likely to quit smoking if you get help. And there’s lots of help available from local Stop Smoking Services, which are provided by many Careway pharmacies. The Stop Smoking Service has
trained advisers on hand to support you and help you quit for good, and provides NRT and other stop smoking medicines at the cost of a prescription. To find your nearest participating
pharmacy, visit our website
www.careway.co.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
All About health 19
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