NICORETTE® PATCH Nicotine Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet? Nicorette Patch is intended to help you to give up • hyperthyroidism (a disorder of the thyroid smoking, but you will only be successful in gland) Please read this leaflet carefully before you start becoming a non-smoker if you are determined to • diabetes to use Nicorette Patch. This leaflet answers some quit. common questions about the patch and Nicotine • phaeochromocytoma (a tumour of the adrenal You will also need the support of others, your Replacement Treatment (also called NRT). gland) family, your friends, or any one of a number of It does not contain all the available information or "quit smoking" organisations. Taking other medicines take the place of professional advice such as You will need to plan your stop-smoking If you are taking any other medicines, talking to your pharmacist or a counsellor program. Do not be afraid to seek support or including medicines that you buy without a experienced with helping smokers to quit. advice. prescription, in a pharmacy, supermarket or All medicines have risks and benefits. You need health food shop, the way these medicines For the Nicorette programme to be effective you to weigh the risks of using the Nicorette Patch work may be affected once you stop smoking. must not smoke at all while using Nicorette against the benefits it will have for you. Patch. These medicines may include: Use the Nicorette Patch as instructed and follow • paracetamol the advice given in this leaflet. Before using Nicorette Patch • caffeine If you have any concerns about taking this • theophylline medicine, you can seek the professional advice When you must not use Nicorette Patch • oxazepam of your pharmacist, or for medical inquiries Do not use Nicorette Patch if: call 1300 362 486. • oestrogens • you are pregnant or intend to become Keep this leaflet with the medicine. pregnant • warfarin You may need to read it again. There is medical evidence that nicotine in • lignocaine any form may be harmful to an unborn child. • insulin What Nicorette Patch is used for Therefore it is recommended that you do not • imipramine use Nicorette if you are pregnant or intend to Nicorette Patch helps you to give up smoking by • pentazocine relieving the desire to smoke, and some of the become pregnant. You may wish to seek professional advice from unpleasant effects which smokers experience • you are breast feeding or intend to breast your doctor or a pharmacist before you start to when they stop smoking. feed use Nicorette Patch. To successfully become a non-smoker it is Nicotine passes freely into breast milk, and important to understand how Nicorette Patch can affect the health of the baby. Therefore works. it is recommended that you do not use Using Nicorette Patch Nicorette if you are breast feeding or intend Which strength of Nicorette Patch to to breast feed. How Nicorette Patch works use • you have heart disease such as palpitations There are three different strengths of Nicorette Smokers have both a physical reliance on (fast or irregular heart beats) or angina nicotine (i.e. the body becomes dependant on Patch. All are intended to be used for 16 hours • you have had a recent heart attack or a nicotine) and a psychological reliance on the (not overnight). stroke smoking habit itself. When you first start to use the Nicorette Patch • you have long term skin disorders like When you give up smoking, your body will miss you should use the highest strength. This is the psoriasis or dermatitis the effects of nicotine and you will miss the habit 15 mg/16h Nicorette Patch. • of smoking. you are a non-smoker, or only smoke You should use this strength patch daily for 12 occasionally Nicorette Patch helps you to tackle these two weeks. • sides of the problem separately, instead of all at you are under 18 years old Then you should reduce the amount of nicotine once. There is not enough information about the you are using by changing the strength of the It is your body's dependence on nicotine which use of the nicotine patch in children. patch you use. causes withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly • you are allergic to nicotine or may be Use the next lower strength 10 mg/16h for two stop smoking. sensitive to the patch adhesive weeks, and then the lowest strength 5 mg/16h for Symptoms may include: You should not use Nicorette Patches if the two weeks. • irritability expiry date printed on the carton has passed By gradually lowering the dose of nicotine you • or the packaging is torn or shows signs of will find it easier to manage without the patch. restlessness tampering. • depression How to use Nicorette Patch Do not give Nicorette Patch to anyone else to Choose and prepare an area of skin. • weight gain use without professional advice from a • craving for cigarettes pharmacist. Before you open the pouch choose an area of skin and make sure it is clean and dry. Nicorette Patch is intended to ease such Before you start to use Nicorette Patch Any area of the body could be used, but withdrawal symptoms by providing your body If you have any of the following, you should ask with nicotine. This leaves your mind free to preferably hairless skin is best to stick the patch for your pharmacist's advice before using on. Some examples may be the upper thigh, hip, concentrate on overcoming your psychological Nicorette Patch. desire to smoke. under the upper arm or the chest. These medical conditions may need consideration The patch should be placed on a different part of The Nicorette Patch has been designed to slowly by or discussion with your doctor or pharmacist. allow nicotine to be absorbed through your skin. the body each day. This will help reduce skin You and your doctor or pharmacist can then irritation if one site is used all the time. The amount of nicotine in the Nicorette Patch is weigh up the risk of using Nicorette Patch against sufficient to help overcome the withdrawal the benefits you will get if you stop smoking. Each patch is sealed in a child-proof pouch. You symptoms but is lower than the amount of will need a pair of scissors to cut the pouch open. The medical conditions include: nicotine which you get from smoking. Therefore, Cut along one edge of the pouch with the scissors • any type of heart disease, including: angina overcoming your reliance on the nicotine in and carefully remove the patch. Nicorette Patch is much easier than overcoming or recent heart attack Be sure to handle the patch carefully as the your dependence on the nicotine you get from • high blood pressure smoking. nicotine on the sticky side could come off on • any blood circulation disorder your hands. • kidney disease This can cause stinging and redness if it gets near • stomach ulcer or pain your eyes or nose.

NICORETTE® PATCH Published by MIMS/myDr February 2001 1 To apply the patch remove the clear plastic When you reach this stage you can call yourself Most of the undesirable effects reported by users coating and press the sticky side onto the clean an ex-smoker, but there is still the chance that of Nicorette occur during the first weeks after dry skin for about 10 seconds. you may lapse back to your smoking habit. If beginning treatment. Some are minor and Run your finger around the edge of the patch to you feel you need to keep using the patch, use the temporary but others may need medical attention. ensure it sticks properly. lowest strength patch to prevent you from having Seek professional advice if you are not sure. symptoms. If you apply the patch correctly you can shower, You may notice the following: bathe or swim without worrying about it coming But don't forget, while you are wearing a patch • your body may still be dependant on nicotine. redness or itching of the skin where the patch off. has been The use of Nicorette Patch beyond one year is You should apply a patch first thing in the • tingling in fingers or toes morning and remove it before you go to bed. not recommended. • redness of the skin and hives. The patch is not intended to be worn at night If you use too much (overdose) when you are sleeping. • dizziness Overdosage can occur if more than one Patch is • How to dispose of a used patch used, or you smoke or chew nicotine containing headache • After removal fold the used patch in half with the gum while you are wearing a patch. indigestion or heartburn sticky side inward. Place the folded patch inside There is a small risk that young children may be • irritability the opened pouch or wrap it in a piece of poisoned with nicotine if they put a patch in their • sleep disturbances aluminium foil. mouth or apply them (especially more than one) • light headedness to their own skin. The used patch should then be disposed of These are not likely to be serious. carefully where children or animals cannot get Anyone who swallows a patch needs hold of it. immediate medical attention. Some effects, such as irritability, sleep disturbances and light-headedness, may be Signs of overdose or poisoning include: Important: Immediately after applying or withdrawal symptoms due to low nicotine levels. removing a Nicorette patch wash and dry your • nausea and vomiting, hands thoroughly so that you cannot get any Tingling feelings and hives are uncommon. • diarrhoea nicotine into your eyes or nose. If any of these effects do not go away, or you • cold sweats Do not use soap as this may increase have any other undesirable effects during use, absorption. • headache tell your doctor or pharmacist. • dizziness REMEMBER - that Nicorette Patch is not Storage • disturbed hearing and vision intended as an alternative to smoking and that your aim is to overcome your need for nicotine • mental confusion Do not use a patch if the pouch or patch are by the end of the treatment period. damaged. • weakness, faintness and fatigue Keep all the pouches in the box until • loss of consciousness After using Nicorette Patch immediately before use. • weak, rapid or irregular pulse When the Nicorette Patch is no longer needed Store Nicorette Patch at temperatures below In the event of yourself or someone else dispose of it carefully where children or 25°C. Storage in a car in hot weather may showing symptoms seek medical advice. animals cannot get it. cause damage to the patch. Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Do not be tempted to smoke again. KEEP NICORETTE PATCH OUT OF Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for REACH OF CHILDREN. advice or go to casualty at your nearest hospital. Product description Starting to use Nicorette Patch You can also help by doing the following: What Nicorette Patches look like Set a Stop Smoking Day so that you can plan to • remove all the nicotine patches Nicorette Patches are rectangular and beige-pink be ready. This allows you to: • flush the skin with water and dry it (skin-tone) in colour. • remove temptations (throw away cigarettes; Do not use soap as this may increase Each of the three strengths is a different size. hide ashtrays). absorption The largest patch is the highest strength and • juggle your social calendar (avoid tempting contains the most nicotine. situations - parties etc. in the early stages). While using Nicorette Patch Identification • tell family and friends that you are going to Nicorette Patch can be identified by an Australian Several points will help you to more easily quit smoking - ask for their support. Register Number which is found on the carton: achieve your goal of becoming a non-smoker. When your Stop Smoking Day arrives, stop 5 mg/16h AUST R 46058 smoking completely on that day and begin your Never think "Surely one cigarette can do no 10 mg/16h AUST R 46059 Nicorette treatment. harm". 15 mg/16h AUST R 46060 When to stop using Nicorette Patch Any smoking while using Nicorette will totally defeat your purpose and may increase the risk of Ingredients It is recommended that you use the 15 mg/16h side effects. Nicorette Patch for 12 weeks to help you get over The active ingredient in Nicorette Patch is Develop strategies to tackle high risk times, e.g. your psychological desire to smoke. nicotine. when drinking alcohol, on the phone, after a After 12 weeks, you should gradually reduce the meal, during meetings. Excipients: amount of nicotine by changing the strength of Occupy your hands. polyisobutylene, polybutene, n-hexane, polyester patch you use over the next 4 weeks. (nonwoven) Reward yourself when you reach the milestone of Use the next lower strength 10 mg/16h for two 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks smoke-free. Where to go for further information weeks, and then the lowest strength 5 mg/16h for two weeks. If you need further information on Nicorette Patch call 1300 362 486 This gradual reduction in the amount of nicotine Side effects will help your body get used to going without Nicotine like all other medicines may cause Manufacturer and Supplier nicotine. unwanted side-effects in some people. Nicorette Patch is made in Sweden and supplied If you notice some symptoms you could use a Seek medical advice from your doctor or in Australia by: lower strength patch for a little longer. pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not Pharmacia & Upjohn Pty Limited Don't be discouraged by this, it is all part of the feel well while you are using Nicorette Patch. ACN 000 185 526 smoking cessation process. If you get chest pain, irregular heart beat, or 59 Kirby Street bad indigestion do not smoke or use Nicorette RYDALMERE NSW 2116 or other nicotine medicines and see your This leaflet was prepared in June 1997. doctor as soon as possible. ® Registered Trade Mark of Pharmacia & upjohn AB, Sweden.

NICORETTE® PATCH Published by MIMS/myDr February 2001 2