Maybe you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking this year. If you stuck to it, congratulations! But maybe nicotine addiction made it hard to quit and you started smoking again. Maybe you decided that on January 1st, you weren’t ready to make the decision to try to quit. Or, maybe you’re not a smoker at all, but you have a loved one who is and you want to help. Regardless of which scenario best describes your situation, you should know that there are options available any time you or a loved one wants to try to quit.

Taking Control
Quitting smoking has both immediate and long-term benefits, including reducing your risk for diseases caused by smoking. You can take control of your health and make a resolution to try to quit, but who says it has to be in January? Any time of year could be the right time to try to quit.

One option you might consider to help you try to quit is the NICOTROL® Inhaler (nicotine inhalation system). The NICOTROL Inhaler provides smokers with adequate amounts of nicotine to reduce the urge to smoke, and may provide some degree of comfort by providing a hand-to-mouth ritual similar to smoking, although the importance of such an effect in smoking cessation is, as yet, unknown. People who use the NICOTROL Inhaler with a comprehensive behavioral smoking cessation program are more successful in quitting smoking. This program can include support groups, counseling or specific behavior change techniques. As the NICOTROL Inhaler is available only by prescription, talk to your doctor for more information on how it may help you quit smoking. You should stop smoking completely before using the NICOTROL Inhaler.

Please see: Important Safety Information; full Prescribing Information; Patient Information.

This information is courtesy of Pfizer Inc.

Helping your Loved One
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey, nearly 70 percent of smokers reported wanting to quit, and over 50 percent made a quit attempt in the past year. If you have a loved one who smokes and is ready to quit, you can provide some support by:Encouraging your loved one to take the first step and talk to a doctor when they are readySupporting your loved one, however they may need it, around their decision to quit. The type of support can be different for different people:Some people might need help to avoid activities they associate with smokingOthers might need someone to talk to when they have an urge to smokeRemember, quitting is not easy. Continue to be supportive if your loved one slips and encourage them to try again.

Resources
Let your doctor know when you are ready to quit smoking. He or she can help you decide what approach may be right for you. The decision to quit smoking is a choice, and when you are ready, you can decide to try to quit smoking. You don’t need a holiday or new year to dictate when you make that choice. You can make a resolution any time of the year, and when you make that choice, the NICOTROL Inhaler might help.

For more information on the NICOTROL Inhaler, visit www.NICOTROL.com.

This information is courtesy of Pfizer Inc.

Indication
The NICOTROL Inhaler is indicated as an aid to smoking cessation for the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. It is available only by prescription and is recommended for use as part of a comprehensive behavioral smoking cessation program.

Important Safety Information
Do not use the NICOTROL Inhaler if you are hypersensitive or allergic to nicotine, menthol, or to any ingredient in the product.

If you have cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, or bronchospastic diseases including asthma or chronic pulmonary disease, talk to your doctor about using the NICOTROL Inhaler. If you are under a doctor’s care for any condition, you should first discuss with your doctor the potential risks of using this product.

You should stop smoking completely before using the NICOTROL Inhaler. You should not smoke or use other nicotine-containing products while under treatment with the NICOTROL Inhaler.

Because nicotine is addictive, it is possible to become dependent on the NICOTROL Inhaler. It is important to use it only for as long as needed to overcome your smoking habit. The safety of treatment with the Nicotrol Inhaler for periods longer than 6 months has not been established, and such use is not recommended.

A special note about children and pets: The NICOTROL Inhaler can cause serious illness or be fatal in children and pets – even in very small amounts. If a child chews on or swallows new or used NICOTROL Inhaler cartridges, immediately call a doctor or call your regional poison center.

The specific effects of the NICOTROL Inhaler treatment on fetal development and nursing infants are unknown. Therefore, pregnant and nursing smokers should be encouraged to attempt cessation using educational and behavioral interventions before using pharmacological approaches.

You are likely to experience mild irritation of the mouth or throat, or cough when you first use the NICOTROL Inhaler. In clinical trials, the frequency of mouth or throat irritation, or coughing declined with continued use. The most common nicotine-related side effect was upset stomach. Other nicotine-related side effects were nausea, diarrhea, and hiccup. Smoking-related side effects included chest discomfort, bronchitis, and high blood pressure.

It is important to tell your doctor about any other medications you may be taking because they may need dosage adjustment.