Bear Street Pharmacy

49 Bear Street, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX32 7DB

 Tel: 0870 7662213 Fax:  01271  323878

Stopping Smoking  with Nicotine Reduction and Replacement: an explanation

Nicotine Reduction Programmes

Nicotine Reduction works by allowing smokers to  substitute nicotine from cigarettes or tobacco with nicotine from  gum, patches or lozenges. Doing this, immediately  removes the dangerous tars present in tobacco products and also helps break the habit of smoking.  However,  because nicotine itself is also harmful to health, and is also the cause of craving (the withdrawal effect that most people experience when they stop smoking)  the next step to take is to  reduce the concentration of nicotine in the substitute product gradually, until you wean off  nicotine completely or need only a  much smaller (and  less harmful)  daily intake.

Importantly, the whole process should never be rushed, and generally should take NOT LESS  than 3 months. When  people wean off nicotine too quickly, some become more likely to resume smoking because of the craving. Of the various forms of nicotine replacement products available, patches, chewing gum, sprays and sublingual (under the tongue) tablets etc, some  are available from non-specialist outlets but some are only available from pharmacies. At present we are only selling on-line,  those that are available generally.

Our specific recommendation for any nicotine reduction programme,  is that you start  with a product that is weaker than you think you need - you can always move to a higher strength if you require it. The reason for this is that using  a  product containing more nicotine than you usually take in from smoking, may mean that you are actually overdosing on nicotine: then  you may feel ill, and may  also have trouble sleeping. If a product  is too weak though, then you will get cravings and will  quickly realise that  an  increased strength is necessary.  

As a rough guide to the strength you might need, nicotine patches come in  different strengths; low (5 Milligrammes) for up to 5 cigarettes per day, medium (10 Mgs)  up to 10 cigarettes per day and high (15 Mgs )over 10 cigarettes per day. Patches also come in 16 hour versions for those who only crave cigarettes during waking hours, or as 24 hour versions  for those who wake up in the night for cigarettes or who need one as soon as they wake up in the morning. Because they have to last longer, twenty four hour patches are proportionately stronger in nicotine than sixteen hour patches (7, 14 and 21 milligrammes for the low, medium and high strengths.)

Chewing gum comes in   two strengths 2mg and 4mg and works on the same principle as patches. We advise starting  with a 2mg pack, and  upgrading to 4mg if need be.   For those who dislike chewing gum, flavoured lozenges (available in 1mg, 2mg and 4mg strengths) can provide a  pleasant  alternative.

Nicotine Free (Replacement) Programmes.

Some people prefer nicotine-free substitutes like Nicobrevin or Acupuncture / Acupressure. Nicobrevin is a nicotine-free capsule containing bitters and essential oils to suppress the nicotine craving and, to help combat the hunger  stimulated by lack of nicotine. By taking a 28 day course  (one pack) Nicobrevin has proved successful in overcoming the symptoms of total nicotine withdrawal. It may be necessary however to repeat the course for a further  month or two to be entirely successful and people susceptible to allergies should note that Nicobrevin contains gelatin, glycerin and preservatives.

Acupunture and Acupressure (the needle - free equivalent) is also useful for some people who wish to stop using nicotine immediately. Originally developed by traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure is thought to overcome craving by stimulating the natural sedative chemicals (endorphins) that we all  produce to deal with stress and trauma.  More information can be found by clicking the Acuone Acupressure Products button below. The Anti-Smoking button  takes you back to our nicotine reduction/replacement products page.