Habitrol Patch (21mg) helps you to give up smoking by relieving the desire to smoke, as well as some of the unpleasant effects. Each box contains 7 patches

Medicine Classification:
Pharmacy Medicine

Purpose:
Helps you stop smoking

Active Ingredients:
Each Patch contains 21mg nicotine

General:
Habitrol Patch helps you to give up smoking by relieving the desire to smoke, as well as some of the unpleasant effects, which smokers experience when they stop smoking

How Habitrol Patch works
Smokers have both a physical reliance on nicotine (i.e. the body becomes dependent on nicotine) and a psychological reliance on the smoking habit

When you give up smoking, your body will miss the effects of nicotine and you will miss the habit of smoking

Habitrol Patch helps you to tackle these two sides of the problem separately, instead of all at once

It is your body's dependence on nicotine, which causes withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly stop smoking. Nicotine is an addictive substance. Symptoms may include irritability, restlessness, depression, weight gain, and craving for cigarettes

Habitrol Patch is intended to ease such withdrawal symptoms by providing your body with nicotine. This leaves your mind free to concentrate on overcoming your psychological desire to smoke

Habitrol patch has been designed to slowly allow nicotine to be absorbed through your skin. The amount of nicotine in the Habitrol Patch is sufficient to help overcome the withdrawal symptoms but is lower than the amount of nicotine which you get from smoking. Therefore, overcoming your reliance on the nicotine in Habitrol Patch is much easier than overcoming your dependence on the nicotine you get from smoking

Habitrol Patch is intended to help you to give up smoking, but you will only be successful in becoming a non-smoker if you are determined to quit

Which Strength of Habitrol Patch to use and how long it should be used for There are three different strengths of Habitrol Patch. The patch is applied on waking (usually in the morning) and removed 24 hours later

When you first start to use the Habitrol Patch you should use the highest strength. This is the 21mg Habitrol Patch. You should use this strength patch daily for 8 weeks

Then you should reduce the amount of nicotine you are using by changing the strength of the patch you use. Use the next lower strength patch (14mg) applied daily for 2 weeks, then use the lowest strength patch (7mg) applied daily for two weeks

This gradual reduction in the amount of nicotine will help your body get used to going without nicotine

The patches each last 16 hours, are easy to use, and can be discreetly worn under clothing

Precautions
When you must not use Habitrol Patch
Do not use Habitrol Patch If: You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
There is medical evidence that nicotine in any form may be harmful to an unborn child. Therefore it is recommended that you do not use Habitrol if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, unless you are unable to stop smokig without nicotine replacement. Talk to your doctor before using Habitrol Patch during pregnancy You are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed
Nicotine passes freely into breastmilk, and can affect the health of the baby. Therefore it is recommended that you do not use Habitrol Patch if you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed You have had a recent heart attack or stroke You have heart disease such as palpitations (fast or irregular heart beats) or uncontrolled angina (chest pain) You are a non-smoker You are under 18 Years old
There is not enough information about the use of Habitrol Gum in children You are allergic to nicotine or may be sensitive to the patch adhesive

You should not use Habitrol Patch if the expiry date printed on the carton has passed or the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering

Do not give Habitrol Patch to anyone else to use as it is recommended that they seek professional advice prior to starting treatment

Before you start to use Habitrol Patches
If you have had any of the following, you should ask for your doctor or pharmacist's advice before using Habitrol Patch

These medical conditions may need consideration by or discussion with your doctor or pharmacist. You and your doctor or pharmacist can then weigh up the risk of using Habitrol Patch against the benefits you will get if you stop smoking

The medical conditions include: