NICORETTE® Patch

The NICORETTE® Patch is a discreet, easy-to-use, once-a-day solution to help you deal with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking.

It is most suitable for you if you are a regular smoker who smokes throughout the day.

How does it work?

The NICORETTE® Patch helps you to quit by delivering a continuous, controlled dose of nicotine into your body to help relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The nicotine is released through your skin over 16 hours. One NICORETTE® 16 hour Patch should be applied first thing every morning and removed before you go to bed. This helps provide craving relief throughout the day, while giving your body a break at night from additional nicotine, minimising the risk of side effects such as sleep disturbance. It is absorbed quite slowly compared to smoking a cigarette so you should be prepared to wait a little while longer for the nicotine to get into your system.

How do I use the NICORETTE® Patch?

For your NICORETTE® Patch to work it is important that you use it properly, so make sure that you read through all the instructions carefully.

Do:

• Apply one fresh NICORETTE® Patch first thing every morning
• Remove the Patch before going to bed and dispose of it safely
• Apply the Patch to a clean, dry, hairless area of skin. E.g. hip, upper arm, upper thigh or chest.

Don't:

• Apply the Patch to the same spot of skin two days running as this can cause irritation.
• Use the Patch on broken or inflamed skin.
• Smoke while you are wearing the Patch.

NICORETTE® Patch Reduction Guide

It is important to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you absorb until you can do without it.

The NICORETTE® Patch is available in three strengths so you can start on the highest dose and then gradually reduce your intake:

1. Start with the 15mg Extra Strength patches for eight weeks
2. Switch to the 10mg patch for two weeks
3. Finally, lower the dose to the 5mg patches for a further 2 weeks before giving up all together.

Remember, if you have any questions or are not sure of anything, please ask your pharmacist or local GP for advice and always read the label. Alternatively ring 0800 729 666.

How to combine use of NICORETTE® Patch and Gum or Inhaler

Normally NICORETTE® Patch or Gum or Inhaler alone would provide enough nicotine to help most people control their craving for cigarettes. However, some people may find that even though they are using nicotine replacement therapy (NICORETTE® products) they still have intense or frequent cravings they find difficult to cope with. If you are one of these people you may benefit from combining NICORETTE® Patch with either NICORETTE® 2mg Gum or NICORETTE® 10mg Inhaler.

Each morning apply a NICORETTE® 15mg/16 hour Patch to an intact area of skin. The NICORETTE® Patch should be removed before going to bed. After applying the NICORETTE® Patch use NICORETTE® 2mg Gum or NICORETTE® 10mg Inhaler whenever a craving occurs.

If you are using NICORETTE® 2mg Gum try to chew at least 4 pieces of gum every day. Most people will use 5-6 pieces. If you are using NICORETTE® 10mg Inhaler try to use 4-5 cartridges every day.

The combination of NICORETTE® Patch and NICORETTE® 2mg Gum or NICORETTE® 10mg Inhaler should be used in this way for 12 weeks. After this time if required you can wean yourself off NICORETTE® by either:

1. Use the NICORETTE® 10mg/16 hour Patch for 2 weeks and then use the NICORETTE® 5mg/16 hour Patch for 3-6 weeks while using the same number of pieces of NICORETTE® 2mg Gum or NICORETTE® 10mg Inhaler cartridges in a day that you have routinely used. Then when a patch is no longer needed, gradually reduce the number of pieces of gum or Inhaler cartridges until you no longer need them. OR
2. Stop use of the NICORETTE® 15mg/16 hour Patch and then gradually reduce the number of pieces of NICORETTE® 2mg Gum or NICORETTE® 10mg Inhaler cartridges that are used until you no longer need them.