Microsoft word - stop-smoking leaflet.doc

Other Stop Smoking Medicines
Choice of medicines to help you stop smoking Zyban (Bupropion Hydrochloride)*^
*Only available to people aged 18 or over. ^ Prescription only medication
This leaflet is designed to print double sided on A4 in landscape format Zyban is a tablet which helps you to stop smoking. You start taking Zyban Why do medicines help?
one to two weeks before you quit and treatment usually lasts for a couple of Cigarettes contain nicotine. By smoking regularly months to help you through the withdrawal cravings. and over a long period of time, your body becomes dependent on nicotine. Giving up Champix (Varenicline)
*Only available to people aged 18 or over. ^ Prescription only medication symptoms, which include cravings, headaches, Champix works by reducing your craving for a cigarette and by reducing the feeling irritable and not being able to sleep. effects you feel if you do have a cigarette. You set a date to stop smoking, Medicines can help you manage these withdrawal symptoms. and start taking tablets 1 or 2 weeks before this date. Treatment normally lasts for 12 weeks. There are three types of stop smoking medicines: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) including gum, patches, microtabs, lozenges, inhalator and nasal spray During October, thousands of people are
taking part in Stoptober - a new, exciting
28 day challenge to stop smoking.
How do I get Stop Smoking Medicines?
All of them are available from the NHS with a prescription. Nicotine Replacement Therapy can be bought without a prescription Call SmokeFree 08000 22 43 32
from pharmacies and other shops (such as supermarkets). Mon to Fri 9am to 8pm, Sat and Sun 11am
All are effective treatments to help you stop smoking, but you may find one suits you more than another. You may speak to your doctor, http://smokefree.nhs.uk/ways-to-quit/quitting-for-the-first-time/ practice nurse or pharmacist for further advice.
MP3 Downloads – ten-minute trainers:
'stress buster for the mind' and
'stress-buster for the body'
http://smokefree.nhs.uk/quit-tools/stress-busting-mp3s/ Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Lozenges
Some people think that using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is just Nicotine lozenges work in a similar way to nicotine gum. To swapping one addiction for another. But this isn't true. NRT does not
release the nicotine, suck until the taste becomes strong or contain tar, poisons or carbon monoxide like cigarettes do, so it’s very
hot. After this you can rest the lozenge inside your cheek - unlikely to cause cancer. It is absorbed into your body in a different way to
once the taste fades you will need to suck again to release the nicotine absorbed from cigarettes, and it is very much less addictive. more nicotine. Suck until the lozenge has completely dissolved - each one should last 20 to 30 minutes. NRT is suitable for most adults, but if you have a heart or circulatory You should use lozenges for about twelve weeks. For the first six weeks you condition, or are on regular medication, you should check with your doctor. should have one lozenge every one to two hours, then reduce your intake. Inhalators
When you use nicotine gum, the nicotine is absorbed through Inhalators look like a plastic cigarette. If you miss the 'hand the lining of your mouth. To release the nicotine, chew until to mouth' aspect of smoking, these may suit you. the taste becomes strong or hot. After this you can rest the A nicotine inhalator works by releasing nicotine vapour when gum inside your cheek. Once the taste or heat fades you will you suck on it. The vapour gets absorbed through your need to chew again to release more nicotine. mouth and throat. Inhalers work very quickly so you should reach for your When you first quit you should be chewing about 1 piece of gum every hour. inhaler whenever you feel strong cravings for a cigarette. Each inhalator Gradually you can begin to cut down on the amount of gum you use. contains a disposable cartridge which has enough nicotine for around 3 to 4, 20 Gum can be helpful because it provides short bursts of nicotine. However, some minute puffing sessions. This equates to around 400 puffs. people find the taste unpleasant or dislike having to 'park' the gum. You should use the inhalator for a total of twelve weeks. After eight weeks, reduce use by half, finally stopping the use completely in the last two weeks. Patches release a steady amount of nicotine. They are useful Nicotine nasal spray
for those who are concerned about discretion (they can be You use the nasal spray by releasing one spray into each worn easily beneath clothing) or dislike the taste of the oral nostril twice an hour. Each dose will give the equivalent products. However they may cause skin irritation for some nicotine contained in one cigarette. This is the fastest way that nicotine can enter the bloodstream reaching the brain There are two ways to use patches: just during the time you are awake (16 hour patch) or both day and night (24 hour patch). The 24 hour patch may cause You should use the nasal spray for a total of twelve weeks. After eight weeks, some sleep disturbance but is helpful for people who have strong cravings reduce use by half, finally stopping the use completely in the last two weeks. This can be a very useful and effective form of medication for highly dependent heavy smokers who have difficulty giving up. Microtabs
However this method is not suitable for everyone and may cause side-effects Microtabs are designed to be dissolved under the tongue. such as nose and throat irritation, coughing, and watering eyes. You should not chew or swallow them - this may cause When you quit you should use one or two tablets every hour for up to three months after you quit. You should then be able to gradually cut

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