Health Centres - Nicorette microtab
How does it work?
Nicorette microtabs contain nicotine. They are a type of medicine known as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and are used to help smokers give up the habit.
Nicotine is the addictive substance present in tobacco. Smokers who try to give up often experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and cravings for cigarettes, because they are dependent on the nicotine in tobacco. Withdrawal symptoms can include irritability, headaches, restlessness, insomnia and difficulty concentrating. These, combined with cigarette cravings, are why it is difficult for some people to give up smoking.
Nicotine replacement therapies work by giving you a small amount of nicotine, but without the dangerous effects of inhaling tobacco smoke. This helps relieve the withdrawal symptoms and cravings for a cigarette that you get when you stop smoking, and allows you to get on with breaking the psychological habit of smoking. If you are physically addicted to nicotine, using NRT has been shown to almost double your chances of successfully quitting smoking.
Nicorette microtabs are designed to dissolve under your tongue. The nicotine is then absorbed into the bloodstream from the lining of your mouth to provide relief from cravings.
The number of tablets you use each day will depend on how much you used to smoke and what strength your cigarettes were. You should not use more than is recommended on the packet.
When you quit smoking completely, it is recommended that you use one to two tablets every hour, for up to three months after stopping smoking. After this time your psychological urge to smoke should be less. You should then be able to gradually reduce the number of tablets you are using, so that you are using less and less nicotine. (It is rare to become dependent on the tablets. If this happens it is much less dangerous than being dependent on cigarettes and is a much easier habit to break than smoking.) You should stop using the tablets when your consumption is down to one or two tablets a day.
NRT comes in many forms. There are factsheets on all these linked at the end of this page. Nicotine patches can be used to help prevent cravings for cigarettes, while nasal sprays, inhalators, chewing gum, tablets that dissolve under the tongue, and lozenges, are all forms that can be used instead of smoking when you get a cigarette craving.
As well as breaking the physical addiction, you also need to break the smoking habits you used to have. Try to avoid situations where you will be tempted to smoke, and remember to seek help and support whenever you feel like giving in to your cravings.
What is it used for?
- Relief of withdrawal symptoms associated with giving up smoking
Warning!
- Nicorette microtabs should be allowed to dissolve under the tongue.
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