Nicorette Patch
Classification
Pharmacy Only Medicine
Dosage
How to use Nicorette Patch
Choose and prepare and area of skin
Before you open the pouch choose an area of skin and make sure it is clean
and dry. Any area of the body could be used, but preferably hairless skin is
best to stick the patch on.
The patch should be placed on a different part of the body each day. This will
help reduce skin irritation.
Cut along one edge of the pouch with the scissors and
carefully remove the patch. Be sure to handle the patch carefully as the nicotine
on the sticky side could come off on your hands. This can cause stinging and
redness if it gets near your eyes or nose.
To apply the patch remove the clear plastic coating and press the sticky side
onto the clean dry skin for about 10 seconds. Run your finger around the edge
of the patch to ensure it sticks properly.
If you apply the patch correctly you can shower, bathe or swim without worrying
about it coming off.
Which Strength of Nicorette Patch to use and how long it should be
used for
There are three different strengths of Nicorette Patch. The patch is applied
on waking (usually in the morning) and removed 16 hours later (usually at bedtime).
The patch is not intended to be worn while you are sleeping.
When you first start to use the Nicorette Patch you should use the highest
strength. This is the 15mg/16hr Nicorette Patch. You should use this strength
patch daily for 8 weeks.
Then you should reduce the amount of nicotine you are using by changing the
strength of the patch you use. Use the next lower strength patch (10mg/16hr)
applied daily for 2 weeks, then use the lowest strength patch (5mg/16hr) applied
daily for two weeks.
This gradual reduction in the amount of nicotine will help your body get used
to going without nicotine.
If you have been unable to quit smoking after this time, then further use of
the Nicorette Patch may be considered after advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
Purpose/Use
What Nicorette Patch is used for
Nicorette Patch helps you to give up smoking by relieving the desire to smoke,
as well as some of the unpleasant effects, which smokers experience when
they stop smoking.
How Nicorette Patch works
Smokers have both a physical reliance on nicotine (i.e. the body becomes dependent
on nicotine) and a psychological reliance on the smoking habit.
It is your body's dependence on nicotine, which causes with-drawal symptoms
when you suddenly stop smoking. Nicotine is an addictive substance. Symptoms
may include irritability, restlessness, depression, weight gain, and craving
for cigarettes.
Nicorette Patch is intended to ease such withdrawal symptoms by providing your
body with nicotine. This leaves your mind free to concentrate on overcoming
your psychological desire to smoke.
Nicorette patch has been designed to slowly allow nicotine to be absorbed through
your skin. The amount of nicotine in the Nicorette Patch is sufficient to help
overcome the withdrawal symptoms but is lower than the amount of nicotine which
you get from smoking. Therefore, overcoming your reliance on the nicotine in
Nicorette Patch is much easier than overcoming your dependence on the nicotine
you get from smoking.
Adverse effects
Nicotine like all other medicines may cause unwanted
side effects in some people.
Seek professional advice from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if
you do not feel well while you are using Nicorette Patch. Most of the undesirable
effects reported by users of Nicorette occur during the first weeks after beginning
treatment. Some are minor and temporary but others may need medical attention.
You may notice the following:
- Redness or itching of the skin where the patch has been
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- General skin redness and hives
- Dizziness
- Sleeplessness
Some effects, such as dizziness, headache and sleeplessness may be withdrawal
symptoms due to low nicotine levels.
If any of these effects do not go away, or you have any other undesirable
effects during use, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Ingredients
5mg
Each Transdermal Patch contains 8.3mg nicotine, giving 5mg/16hours.
10mg
Each Transdermal Patch contains 16.6mg nicotine, giving 10mg/16hours.
10mg
Each Transdermal Patch contains 24.9mg nicotine, giving 15mg/16hours.
Precautions
When you must not use Nicorette Patch
Do not use Nicorette Patch If:
- You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
- You are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed
- You have had a recent heart attack or stroke
- You have heart disease such as palpitations (fast
or irregular heart beats) or uncontrolled angina (chest
pain)
- You are a non-smoker
- You are under 18 Years old
- You are allergic to nicotine or may be sensitive
to the patch adhesive.
You should not use Nicorette Patch if the expiry date printed on the carton
has passed or the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not give Nicorette Patch to anyone else to use as it is recommended that they
seek professional advice prior to starting treatment.
Before you start to use Nicorette Patches
If you have had any of the following, you should ask for your doctor or pharmacist's
advice before using Nicorette Patch.
These medical conditions may need consideration by or discussion with your doctor
or pharmacist. You and your doctor or pharmacist can then wiegh up the risk of
using Nicorette Patch against the benefits you will get if you stop smoking.
The medical conditions include:
- Angina (chest pain) or any other problem with your heart or blood vessels
such as pain in one or more legs when you walk
- High Blood Pressure
- Previous Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Stomach ulcer or pain
- Hyperthyroidism (a disorder of the thryroid gland)
- Phaeochromocytoma (a tumour of the adrenal gland)
- Diabetes
Taking Other medicines
If you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without
a prescription, in a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, the way these
medicines work may be affected once you stop smoking.
These medicines may include:
- Theophylline (asthma medication)
- Insulin
- Imipramine (antidepressant)
- Pentazocine (pain medication).
If you use too much (overdose) or in accidental poisoning
Overdosage can occur if more than one patch is used, or you smoke or use other
nicotine containing products while you are wearing a patch.
Symptoms of overdose or poisoning include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Salivating
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal Pain
- Cold sweats
- Weakness
- Disturbed hearing
- Headache
- Breathing difficulties
- Weak, rapid or irregular pulse
- Loss of consciousness.
In the event of yourself or someone else showing symptoms seek medical advice.
You can also help by doing the following:
- Remove all the nicotine patches
- Flush the skin with water and dry it.
Manufactured by:
Pharmacia AB, Sweden
Distributed by:
Pharmacia
14 Normanby Road
Mt Eden
Auckland
Click to buy cheap Nicorette Patches now!
