Nicotrol
Nicotrol (nicotine) is a type of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. It helps adults quit smoking by relieving nicotine withdrawal symptoms and lowering your cravings for nicotine products like cigarettes. Nicotrol (nicotine) is an inhaler. The medication is inhaled through the mouth throughout the day. Common side effects include mouth and throat irritation and headache.
Note: The Nicotrol (nicotine) inhaler has been discontinued and is no longer available in the United States. Ask a healthcare professional about other nicotine replacement therapies such as the nicotine gum (Nicorette) or nicotine nasal spray (also called Nicotrol).
What is Nicotrol (nicotine)?
What is Nicotrol (nicotine) used for?
- To lessen withdrawal symptoms and nicotine cravings related to smoking cessation (quitting smoking)
How Nicotrol (nicotine) works
Nicotrol (nicotine) is a form of nicotine replacement therapy.
Nicotine is an addictive chemical that's found in many tobacco products, including cigarettes. Nicotrol (nicotine) serves as a replacement for nicotine for people who are trying to quit smoking. It lowers your nicotine cravings and helps prevent nicotine withdrawal symptoms without the harmful chemicals found in tobacco products.
Drug facts
More on Nicotrol (nicotine) essentials
Side effects of Nicotrol (nicotine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Irritation in mouth and throat (40%)
- Coughing (32%)
- Headache (26%)
- Runny nose (23%)
- Indigestion (18%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Bad taste in mouth
- Jaw and neck pain
- Nausea
- Hiccups
- Chest discomfort
The following Nicotrol (nicotine) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Shortness of breath
swelling of the gums, mouth, or tongue
tightness in the chest
tingling in the arms, legs, hands, or feet
Less common
Burning, tingling, or prickly sensations in the nose, mouth, or head
confusion
difficulty with swallowing
dryness or pain in the throat
fast or irregular heartbeat
nasal blister or sore
numbness of the nose or mouth
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Back pain
headache
hot, peppery feeling in the back of the throat or nose
indigestion
watery eyes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Nicotrol (nicotine)
Pros
- Helps control cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Copies the hand-to-mouth habit of smoking
- Can use together with the nicotine patch (Nicoderm CQ)
Cons
- Might cause cough and throat or mouth irritation
- Might not be the best option if you have lung problems
- Must stop smoking completely during treatment with Nicotrol (nicotine)
Pharmacist tips for Nicotrol (nicotine)
- Check in often with the healthcare professional (HCP) who's managing your smoking cessation. As you continue to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like Nicotrol (nicotine), your HCP will adjust your dose based on your progress. Your HCP can also suggest support programs and other resources to help you to quit smoking.
- Don't smoke while you're using NRT like Nicotrol (nicotine). Otherwise, you might be at risk of having symptoms of nicotine overdose, such as stomach cramps, vomiting, and headache. But it's okay if you accidentally have a slip-up. Continue to use your NRT at the same dose and as prescribed to help you avoid smoking. Speak with your HCP about what to do if you accidentally have a slip-up.
- Let your prescriber and pharmacist know if you're taking other medications to help stop smoking. Also tell them if you're taking a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). Your medications might need dose adjustments to keep you safe from drug interactions.
- Tell your prescriber if you have breathing problems before you use Nicotrol (nicotine). This medication hasn't been studied in people with breathing problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But nicotine can tighten the muscles in the lungs, which can make it harder to breathe.
- Store Nicotrol (nicotine) at room temperature in its original packaging to protect from light. Keep it up and away from children and pets so they're less likely to reach and accidentally take the medication. Call a Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222 if you think your child accidentally took the medication.
How to use Nicotrol (nicotine) inhaler:
- Remove the mouthpiece from the packaging, push the top and bottom pieces together, and turn the pieces so the markings on them line up. Then, pull the top and bottom apart and place a cartridge into the inhaler. Push hard on the cartridge until it's set into place.
- Once you load the cartridge into the inhaler, line up the markings on the top and bottom pieces again and push them back together so they fit tight. Turn the top and bottom pieces so the markings don't line up to lock them into place.
- Puff in short and shallow breaths from the inhaler. Each cartridge lasts for 20 minutes. You can either puff continuously for 20 minutes or break it up into multiple sessions (for example, four 5-minute sessions). It's recommended to use each cartridge for a longer period of time (up to 20 minutes) and more often when you're starting the medication to help control cravings.
- When you're not using the inhaler, keep it in the locked position.
- After you finish a Nicotrol (nicotine) cartridge, separate the mouthpiece and throw away the used cartridge. Keep in mind that there's still nicotine leftover in the cartridge after you use it.
More on Nicotrol (nicotine) tips
Common questions about Nicotrol
No. The Nicotrol inhaler is no longer available in the United States. The manufacturer discontinued this medication and stopping making it. There are several other nicotine replacement therapies that a healthcare professional (HCP) can recommend in place of Nicotrol inhaler. Some options include the nicotine gum and lozenges.
Studies show that nicotine replacement therapy like Nicotrol doesn't cause significant changes to blood pressure. This means that it's likely that people with a history of blood pressure problems who smoke can safely use nicotine replacement therapy to help quit. Speak with a healthcare professional about using nicotine replacement therapy if you have high blood pressure, you smoke, and you're ready to quit.
Yes, Nicotrol is an example of a prescription nicotine replacement therapy. There are also over-the-counter products available, like nicotine patches (Nicoderm CQ).
Each Nicotrol inhaler comes with 168 cartridges. Each cartridge doesn't have a specific number of puffs in them. But each cartridge lasts for up to a total of 20 minutes of puffing.
Each Nicotrol inhaler cartridge lasts for up to a total of 20 minutes of puffing. You can either puff continuously during those 20 minutes or break up your puffing time, for example four 5-minute sessions. When the cartridge is empty, throw it away, out of reach of children and pets.
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Risks and warnings for Nicotrol (nicotine)
Nicotrol (nicotine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Possible risk for dependence and nicotine withdrawal symptoms
It's possible for feelings of dependence to develop from using nicotine products before starting nicotine replacement therapy like the Nicotrol (nicotine) inhaler. This means that some people might feel like they have to rely on Nicotrol (nicotine) to function normally. To lower the risk for dependence and nicotine withdrawal symptoms like anxiety or cravings, work with your healthcare professional to slowly lower the number of cartridges of Nicotrol (nicotine) you use per day after 3 months of treatment. It's not recommended to use Nicotrol (nicotine) for more than 6 months.
Harm to unborn babies
- Risk factors: Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Ask your prescriber about the benefits and risks of using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like Nicotrol (nicotine) if you're pregnant. In general, using nicotine in any form during pregnancy can put your unborn baby at risk for serious harm. Some research shows that children born to mothers who used NRT like Nicotrol (nicotine) during pregnancy might be at higher risk for certain developmental problems after birth. Ask a healthcare professional about safe options to quit smoking with no or minimal use of nicotine products.
Harm to breastfeeding babies
- Risk factors: Breastfeeding
Speak with your prescriber about the benefits and risks of using NRT like Nicotrol (nicotine) if you're breastfeeding. It's possible for the nicotine from the Nicotrol inhaler cartridges to get into breast milk. In general, nicotine can affect the quality and amount of milk you make and it might cause harm to breastfed babies. Ask a healthcare professional about ways to quit smoking with no or minimal use of nicotine products.
Keep out of reach from children and pets
Be sure to keep new and used Nicotrol (nicotine) inhalers and cartridges out of reach from children and pets. Empty Nicotrol (nicotine) cartridges can still have some nicotine left inside when you throw it away. It can be very dangerous if children or pets accidentally swallow the medication in Nicotrol (nicotine).
Nicotine poisoning in children is a medical emergency and must be treated right away. Call 911 if your child complains of stomach cramps or a burning feeling in the mouth, if they're confused or restless, or if they have unusual breathing patterns or irregular heart rate.
Nicotrol (nicotine) dosage
Typical dosage for Nicotrol (nicotine)
Each cartridge of Nicotrol (nicotine) gets inserted into the inhaler. Use the inhaler to take puffs or inhalations through the mouth for up to 20 minutes. Each cartridge contains 10 mg of nicotine, but only about 2 mg of nicotine gets absorbed into your body after the full 20-minute inhalation period.
The typical starting dose is at least 6 cartridges per day at least for the first 3 to 6 weeks of treatment. Then, work with your healthcare professional (HCP) to find the dose that best controls your cravings. Don't use more than 16 cartridges in a single day. The recommended length of treatment is 12 weeks (3 months).
After that, discuss with your HCP about the best approach to slowly lower the number of cartridges you use per day over the next 6 to 12 weeks.
Don't use Nicotrol (nicotine) for a total of more than 6 months.
Interactions between Nicotrol (nicotine) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Bendamustine
- Hemin
- Tegafur
How much does Nicotrol (nicotine) cost?
$471.16
Nicotrol (nicotine) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Nicotrol (nicotine) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to nicotine or menthol
What are alternatives to Nicotrol (nicotine)?
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