Nicorette Nasal Spray

...is until I came across Nicorette Nasal Spray. To be honest I had got to desperation point when I found out about this product and I think I would have tried shovelling hot rhino poo up my nose if I thought it would have helped me quit. This is not a miracle cure and it will only be effective if you have really made up your mind to stop. What is miraculous however, about this product, is the instantaneous way it stops those awful cravings unlike other ...
.../>

Nicorette nasal spray solution is supplied in a dark glass bottle attached to a pump spray which is designed to be put into your nose. The active ingredient is Nicotine as well as Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Dihydrogen, Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Beta-Ionine (aroma), Methyl and Propyl Parahydroxybenzoate (preservatives), Disodium Edentate (stabiliser) and water. This sounds like an amazing amount of ... more

For a number of years now I had fought a losing battle to stop smoking. I had tried every method going, gum, lozenges, patches, hypnotherapy and cold turkey but nothing worked and I always ended up back on the fags usually smoking more than ever. I was a very heavy smoker and the first thing I though of on waking up in a morning was getting my first fag lit. If I went more than two hours without a smoke I would get murderous and it was woe betide anyone who got in my way. I would get physical symptoms such as the shakes and bad headaches and I couldn’t concentrate on anything else.

That is until I came across Nicorette Nasal Spray. To be honest I had got to desperation point when I found out about this product and I think I would have tried shovelling hot rhino poo up my nose if I thought it would have helped me quit. This is not a miracle cure and it will only be effective if you have really made up your mind to stop. What is miraculous however, about this product, is the instantaneous way it stops those awful cravings unlike other replacement therapies which can take upwards of twenty minutes to enter the blood stream. Because the product is sprayed into the nose and enters the blood stream directly through the delicate nasal passage, the cravings are reduced/stopped almost immediately.

Nicorette nasal spray solution is supplied in a dark glass bottle attached to a pump spray which is designed to be put into your nose. The active ingredient is Nicotine as well as Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Dihydrogen, Phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 80, Beta-Ionine (aroma), Methyl and Propyl Parahydroxybenzoate (preservatives), Disodium Edentate (stabiliser) and water. This sounds like an amazing amount of chemicals but when you think that an average fag has upwards of 400 chemicals added I think it puts it into perspective somewhat.

Nicorette nasal spray belongs to a group of medicines called nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). It is used to relieve withdrawal symptoms and to reduce the cravings for cravings for nicotine which people get when they stop smoking.

The product is supplied with a little booklet with an informative guide regarding this spray. It gives detailed information on what the product is, who should and should not use it, how it works on the body, the side effects, how to use the spray along with a picture guide, how long to use the product for and the correct dosage depending at what stage of cessation you are at and how to look after the medicine. There is also a useful section which gives helpful tips on giving up. A telephone number is also listed and if you wish to ring the number they will supply a “Fresh Start Support Pack” which contains a number of handy tools and information to help you successfully stop smoking. You must not use the spray if you are a non-smoker (why a non – smoker want to use this product is beyond me), or think you may have an allergy to any of the listed ingredients in the spray. The booklet advises anyone pregnant or breast feeding to avoid nicotine in all forms. You must not continue to smoke if you use this product and it is not recommended for people under the age of eighteen. Doctors advice is required before using the product if there is a history of stomach ulcer or stomach problems of any description, if you suffer from persistent indigestion of pains in the chest; Diabetes, overactive thyroid gland, tumour of the adrenal gland, angina pectoris or any problem with heart or blood vessels such as pain in one or both legs on walking; liver or kidney disease. Also if you are on other medication ..

Using the spray is very easy but it is most important that the nasal spray is used correctly and you must use the spray at the correct angle. The instruction booklet shows a diagram on the correct way to use the application; but it really is simplicity itself to use.

Firstly you need to remove the plastic cap and for the first use the bottle must be primed and you do this by placing the nozzle between your first and second finger with the thumb on the base of the bottle, then press several times quite firmly and quickly until a fine spray appears this can take about 5 or 6 strokes.

Once the spray has been primed you are ready to insert the spray tip into one nostril and point the top towards the back of your nose, then press firmly and quickly. Repeat the process to the other nostril.

Replace the protective cap and keep the container out of reach of children and do not leave the spray in the light. I left my bottle in sunlight one afternoon and came back to find the solution had evaporated so it really needs to be stored in a dark place. You can use the spray in each nostril up to twice in any hour to relieve those nasty cravings. However, don’t use more than 64 sprays in any 24 hour period

The frequency with which you will use the spray will depend on how many cigarettes you smoked and how strong they were. You can continue using this spray for up to 8 weeks, which will lessen your dependence on nicotine after eight weeks you should be ready to reduce your use of the spray. Over the next two weeks reduce your use by half, and over the following two weeks reduce you use to none at all. You may also find that a spray to one nostril only may be sufficient towards the end.

I know a lot of people believe that the best way to stop smoking is to go Cold turkey but when I tried to do it that way I never got off the starting blocks. I needed something that could help me cope with the terrible cravings I got and I found this substance was the only one that really helped me. As I said earlier this isn’t a magic potion and will only work if combined with lots of determination and willpower. I found the best way to use it was to spray as soon as I began to think about cigarettes and then busy myself with something else and usually by the time I had finished my task the cravings had gone.

Once I had made up my mind to stop smoking I changed my whole way of life. I started to drink lots of cold water which I found helped to keep the cravings at bay slightly and I started walking the dogs three or four times a day instead of just once. At work instead of nipping off to the fag cabin I used to speed march around the car park, I avoided pubs and anywhere smoky for the first couple of weeks. I took up cross stitching, read loads more books and spring cleaned the house several times a week. In other words I kept myself busy to keep my mind off it. For the first two weeks I was absolutely hyper!! It has been six months since I stopped smoking and I no longer use the spray so for the first time in many years I am totally independent on nicotine and it is a great feeling. I can’t really believe that I have achieved it …….but I have and I won’t be slipping back into my old habits.

There was one downside for me when I first started using this spray however. For the first two days I experienced the most awful runny eyes, sore throat and sneezing immediately after using the spray. It does tell you in the booklet that these unpleasant symptoms may occur but that as you become accustomed to the spray the symptoms will disappear. I can vouch for this. With perseverance you do get used to the spray but it is hugely unpleasant initially. Also it would not be sensible to spray this stuff if you are driving a car or operating machinery until you get used to the spray. I found that I was able to reduce the dosage after about six weeks and went from spraying both nostrils to just one and then after about another three weeks of using the spray less and less I was able to stop using it after a further four weeks. By this time I found my dependence on Nicotine had ceased and I didn’t experience any problems with cravings once I stopped using the spray.

My son in law also tried this spray but he didn’t get on with it at all. He never made it passed day two as he found the runny eyes and sore throat too unpleasant so again as I said earlier this isn’t a magic potion and it won’t instantly cure you but it is a really powerful ingredient if you are prepared to add a dash of the old willpower in the battle of nasty nic.

Nicorette nasal spray costs £19.99 from Lloyd’s chemists but can be obtained on prescription for £6.40. The product is not available at all chemists. I was really surprised that Boots are not a stockist of this product. There are 200 sprays in each bottle.

Produced by Pharmacia AB of Helsingborg Sweden

Contact Address Pharmacia Ltd, Davy Avenue, Milton Keynes, MK5 8PH

Tel No: 0800 2 4483 8

Thanks for reading

Helen :)
 

...less