Lozenges
- Purpose : Lozenges are a more discrete alternative to chewing gum.
- Format : Lozenges come in 1mg dosages (mint flavour). One 1mg lozenge is equal to one 2mg chewing gum.
- Directions: If you smoke less than 20 cigarettes a day, 8 to 12 lozenges a day is the recommended dosage. Do not take more than 15 lozenges a day. If you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, 4mg chewing gums are recommended for the first two months; you may then switch over to 1mg lozenges and reduce the daily dose little by little.
- Duration of treatment : From 8 weeks to a maximum of 3 months. Lozenges are available through chemists, or can be prescribed by a doctor.
- Side effects : Lozenges do not produce serious side effects. The following side effects have been observed in 1 in 5 users, particularly at the start of treatment: headaches, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, cold-like symptoms, mouth ulcers.
- Important: Do not cease treatment prematurely as this will decrease your chances of success.
Micro-tablets
- Purpose: Placed under the tongue, micro- tablets melt slowly, releasing controlled quantities of nicotine in the mouth. These tablets are discreet and can be used at any time.
- Format: 2mg tablets in handy dispenser.
- Directions: Place the tablet under your tongue and allow to melt for 20 minutes. The effect varies from one person to another. If you feel it is too strong, spit the tablet out before it has completely melted.
- Duration of treatment : From 8 weeks to a maximum of 3 months. Available through chemists (packs of 30) or can be prescribed by a doctor.
- Side effects: Tablets do not cause serious side effects. The following side effects have been observed in 1 in 5 users, especially at the start of treatment: headaches, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, cold-like symptoms, mouth-ulcers.
- Important: Do not cease treatment prematurely as this will decrease your chances of success.
Inhaler
- Purpose: Inhalers help combat both nicotine addiction and the behaviour associated with smoking. They reduce the craving for cigarettes and mimic the process of inhaling cigarette smoke.
- Format: Shaped like a cigarette holder, the inhaler is made of 3 components : 1) a box of 42 refills. Each one containing a sponge saturated with 10mg of nicotine (mint flavour), of which only 5mg is absorbed by the user; 2) A white plastic tube resembling a cigarette-holder in which to insert the nicotine refills; 3) a convenient case to hold the refills and the tube so that the user can carry them around in a pocket or purse.
- Directions: Inhale puffs of nicotine vapour, inhaling more often than with a cigarette as each puff releases much less nicotine than a cigarette: 10 to 20 puffs of vapour release the same amount of nicotine as a single cigarette puff. Maximum nicotine levels in the blood are reached 20 minutes after starting inhalation, far slower than when you inhale cigarette smoke (5minutes). Use at least 6 nicotine refills a day and a maximum of 12. You can either breathe the nicotine vapours into your mouth and then exhale, or inhale them deeply into the lungs. The quantity of nicotine absorbed will be the about the same in both cases, as it is mainy absorbed through the mucous membrane of the mouth.
- Duration of treatment: From 8 weeks to a maximum of 3 months. Only available by doctor's prescription.
- Side effects : Inhalers do not cause serious side effects. Minor side effects are possible but rare and consist of headaches, nausea, heartburn. Users may also experience mouth and throat irritations and a slight cough.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.stop-tabac.ch)
