What this
medicine is for
Nicorette
freshmint 2mg lozenge is a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
It is used
to relieve and/or prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce the cravings you get
when you try to stop smoking or when cutting down the number of cigarettes you
smoke.
Ideally you
should always aim to stop smoking. You can use nicorette freshmint 2mg lozenge
to achieve this by using it to completely replace all your cigarettes.
However nicorette freshmint 2mg
lozenge can also be used in other ways,
*if you feel unable to stop smoking
completely, or wish to replace certain cigarettes and therefore it can help you
to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke,
*at those times when you can’t or do
not want to smoke. For example,
- Where you don’t want to smoke and
avoid harm to others e.g children or family.
- Smoke
free areas e.g Pub, work, public transport e.g aeroplanes.
It may also
help increase your motivation to quit. When making a quit attempt a behavioural
support programme will increase your chances of success.
When you
use nicorette freshmint 2mg lozenge, nicotine is released and passes into your
body through the lining of your mouth. The nicotine released is sufficient to
relieve the unpleasant nicotine withdrawal symptoms. It will also help to stop
tour craving to smoke but will not give you the “buzz” you get from smoking a
cigarette.
Before using this medicine:
Do not use Nicorette Freshmint 2mg
Lozenge:
*if you have an allergy to nicotine
or any of the other ingredients.
*if you are
a child under 12 years of age.
Talk to your pharmacist...
*If you are pregnant or
breat-feeding – you may be able to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to
help you to give up smoking but you should try to give up without it.
*if you are in hospital because of
heart disease (including heart attack, disorders of heart rate or rhythm, or
stroke). In other heart conditions not requiring you to be in hospital, using
NRT is better than continuing to smoke.
*if you have a stomach ulcer,
duodenal ulcer, inflammation of the stomach or inflammation of the oesophagus
(passage between the mouth and stomach).
*if you have liver or kidney
disease.
*if you have an overactive thyroid
gland or have a phaeochromocytoma (a tumour of the adrenal gland that can
affect blood pressure) – your doctor will have told you this.
*if you have diabetes – monitor your
blood sugar levels more often when starting to use nicorette freshmint 2mg
lozenge as you may find your insulin or medication requirements alter.
*if you are taking any other
medicines such as thephylline, clozapine or ropinirole. Stopping smoking may
require the dose of these medicines to be adjusted.
If you are
pregnant or breast-feeding
If you are pregnant:
*Firstly, you should try to give up
smoking without NRT. Stopping completely is by far the best option. The earlier
and quicker you do this the better it is for you and your baby.
*Sconedly, if you can’t manage this,
you can use NRT as a safer alternative to smoking, however you should talk yo
your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice.
Products that are used
intermittently, including nicorette freshmint 2mg lozenge, may be preferable to
nicotine patches. However, patches may be more suitable if you have nausea or
sickness. If you do use patches take them off before going to bed at night.
If you are
breast-feeding:
*Firstly, you should try to give up
smoking without NRT.
*Secondly, if you can’t manage this
you are best to use NFT products that are taken intermittently (not patches),
however you should talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advise.
Breast-feed just before you use nicorette lozenge to ensure that the baby get
the smallest amount of nicotine possible.
If you do
need to use NRT to help you quit, the amount of nicotine that the baby may receive
is considerably smaller and less harmful that the second-hand smoke they would
inhale if you smoked, Tobacco smoke produces breathing and other problems in
babies and children.