The nicotine inhaler is a safe and effective quit medication that helps stop the urges of nicotine withdrawal. It requires a prescription from your healthcare provider.Nicotine inhalers allow you to ‘puff’ on a mouthpiece, and then absorb nicotine through the tissues in the mouth. The inhaler contains none of the other toxins that are in tobacco smoke.

Benefits of the nicotine inhaler

• Gives you something to do with your hands and mouth together
• Lets you decide how often to use the inhaler (how much nicotine you need)
• Can be combined with the nicotine patch to reduce nicotine withdrawal further

Cost

The nicotine inhaler is more expensive than the nicotine patch, gum, and lozenge. Remember to check with your employer or health plan to see if they pay for all or part of the inhaler.

General Information about the nicotine inhaler

• Each cartridge contains about 2 mg of nicotine, equal to 1 to 2 cigarettes.
• Your healthcare provider or pharmacist will tell you how often to use the nicotine inhaler and how to use it correctly.
• Avoid drinking coffee, tea, juice, and colas while using the nicotine inhaler. The acid in these drinks will interfere with your ability to absorb the nicotine.
• Most people use the inhaler for 6 to 12 weeks.

Important Medical Information

Before using the nicotine inhaler, let your healthcare provider know if you:

• Have had a heart attack in the last 2 weeks
• Have had a stroke or TIA in the last 2 weeks
• Have a severe heart rhythm problem or a very fast heartbeat
• Have worsening angina or heart/chest pain
• Are pregnant or are actively trying to get pregnant
• Have asthma

Common Minor Side Effects

Contact your local pharmacist or your healthcare provider if you experience any of these common side effects:

• Throat irritation - may take a week to go away.
• Minor headache
• Upset stomach

If any of these symptoms persist after a few days, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider.

If you experience any of the following symptoms when using the nicotine inhaler, please contact your local pharmacist or your healthcare provider.

• Moderate to severe nausea or vomiting
• Severe headache
• Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
• Severe dizziness

Important: If you experience swelling of the throat or mouth with difficulty breathing, stop using the inhaler and seek immediate medical assistance. This may be a very rare, but very serious allergic reaction to something in the inhaler.