Smoking is an addiction that causes 440,000 deaths every year, according to Nora D. Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. If you've tried to quit smoking in the past and been unsuccessful, you may need the help of a prescription medication, like the Nicotrol Inhaler. With the help of the Nicotrol Inhaler, you can reduce the persistence of your cravings and finally quit smoking permanently.
Significance
The Nicotrol Inhaler is a medication manufactured by Pfizer that is available only with a doctor's prescription in the United States. The device contains a cartridge with a mouthpiece that allows the patient to inhale 4 mg of nicotine at a time. Each cartridge contains 10 mg of nicotine. When the nicotine is inhaled, it is absorbed into the respiratory tract, as well as through the mucus membranes. Of the 4 mg of nicotine that is released from the inhaler, about 2 mg of nicotine is absorbed into the body, according to Pfizer.
Function
The Nicotrol Inhaler is designed to lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking by providing the body with a level of nicotine that can be tapered down slowly according to the patient's symptoms. The Nicotrol Inhaler can reduce the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms including headaches, nervousness, irritability, inability to concentrate, appetite increase, weight gain and fatigue.
Time Frame
Pfizer's suggested dosage for the Nicotrol Inhaler is six to 16 cartridges per day for the first three to six weeks of using the Nicotrol Inhaler. For the next six to 12 weeks, Pfizer suggests that the patient should taper off of the Nicotrol Inhaler as he or she feels comfortable. Pfizer states that in the final six to 12 weeks of treatment, "No tapering strategy has been shown to be superior to any other in clinical studies."
Considerations
After the first six weeks of taking the Nicotrol Inhaler, the patient does not need to take the inhaler if he is not having the urge to smoke. If necessary, the doctor will work with the patient to figure out a tapering schedule that works with the patient's schedule and lifestyle. The Nicotrol Inhaler should be used as a substitute for smoking and should not be used while smoking cigarettes or using any other nicotine supplement, like nicotine patches or gum.
Effects
Side effects are possible while using the Nicotrol Inhaler, particularly if the patient inhales several cartridges in a short period of time. Side effects of the Nicotrol Inhaler include, but are not limited to, allergies, diarrhea, fever, neck pain, hiccups, throat irritation, change in taste, nausea, skin tingling, sinus pain and tooth problems. Usually, these side effects will go away when the patient has stopped using the Nicotrol Inhaler.
