Nicotrol NS

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Nicotrol NS

When you quit smoking, the dosage of certain drugs may have to be changed. It is especially important to check with your doctor if you are taking one of the following:

Acetaminophen-containing products such as Tylenol
Drugs classified as beta blockers, such as Inderal, Sectral, and Tenormin
Caffeine-containing products such as No Doz
Certain airway-opening products such as Isuprel, Afrin, and Neo-Synephrine
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Insulin
Labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate)
Oxazepam (Serax)
Pentazocine (Talwin)
Prazosin (Minipress)
Theophylline (Theo-Dur)

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Nicotine from any source can harm a developing baby. If you're pregnant, it's best to quit without a nicotine replacement product. Use Nicotrol NS only if you think it will speed the moment that you're nicotine free.

Nicotine makes its way into breast milk. A nursing infant may be exposed to less nicotine from Nicotrol NS than from cigarette smoking, but the best course is to avoid nicotine entirely.

Recommended dosage

ADULTS

A dose is defined as 1 spray in each nostril. When you start Nicotrol NS, one or 2 doses per hour is recommended. Take no more than 5 doses per hour or 40 doses per day. During the treatment period, a minimum of 8 doses per day is usually needed for the drug to be effective.

If you succeed in avoiding cigarettes for 8 weeks of Nicotrol NS therapy, your doctor will instruct you to discontinue the spray over the next 4 to 6 weeks. Recommended strategies for discontinuation include:

Stop "cold turkey"
Cut each dose in half (1 spray instead of 2)
Use the spray less frequently
Keep a tally of daily usage and try to decrease the amount used each day
Skip doses by not medicating every hour
Set a planned quit date for stopping use of the spray

Overdosage

Nicotine can be especially toxic to children and pets. Even the residual nicotine in a used container of Nicotrol NS can be harmful. Keep all bottles of Nicotrol NS, used and unused, out of the reach of children.

If a bottle of Nicotrol NS breaks, the spill should be cleaned up immediately with an absorbent cloth or paper towel. Avoid contact with the skin. The area of the spill should be washed several times. If even a small amount of Nicotrol NS comes in contact with the skin, lips, mouth, eyes, or ears, rinse the affected area with water. Keep pets and children away from the area of the spill.

• Symptoms of Nicotrol NS overdose may include:
  Abdominal pain, cold sweats, convulsions, diarreha, disturbed hearing and vision, dizziness, headache, heart failure, nausea, pallor, prostration, hypotension, respiratory failure, salivation, tremor, mental confusion, vomiting, weakness

If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.