Niquitin Range

NiQuitin is a range of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) medicines designed to relieve nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms while stopping or reducing smoking. Selected current NiQuitin products are also indicated to support people stopping nicotine vaping and heated tobacco use.

NiQuitin provides nicotine without the tar, carbon monoxide and many other harmful substances produced by smoking tobacco. The range includes 24-hour nicotine patches for continuous craving control and oral nicotine products for sudden or breakthrough cravings.

Different NiQuitin products can be used alone or, where appropriate, a patch can be combined with an oral nicotine product for additional craving control.

Key features:

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
• Helps reduce nicotine cravings
• Helps relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms
• Supports attempts to stop smoking
• Selected products are also indicated for stopping vaping and heated tobacco use
• Can support gradual reduction before quitting where permitted by the individual product
• Includes 24-hour nicotine patches
• Includes fast and flexible oral nicotine products
• Different strengths available according to nicotine dependence
• Patch and oral NRT can be combined for dual NRT
• Suitable for adults and young people aged 12 years and over, subject to the individual product instructions
• Contains nicotine
• Available without prescription

How NiQuitin works:

Nicotine dependence can cause withdrawal symptoms when smoking or other nicotine use is stopped or reduced.

Symptoms may include:

• Strong cravings
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Low mood
• Increased appetite
• Sleep disturbance

NiQuitin supplies a controlled dose of nicotine without tobacco smoke.

This helps reduce withdrawal symptoms while the user gradually adjusts to living without cigarettes or other nicotine products.

The ultimate goal should be to become free from both smoking and nicotine.

NiQuitin Clear Patches

NiQuitin Clear Patches provide continuous nicotine delivery for up to 24 hours, helping control background cravings throughout the day and overnight.

They may be particularly useful for:

• Regular cravings throughout the day
• Morning cravings
• People who prefer a once-daily treatment

Available strengths:

• 21mg / 24 hours – Step 1
• 14mg / 24 hours – Step 2
• 7mg / 24 hours – Step 3

For people smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day:

A typical step-down programme is:

• 21mg daily for 6 weeks
• Then 14mg daily for 2 weeks
• Then 7mg daily for 2 weeks

Total programme: approximately 10 weeks.

For people smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day:

A typical programme is:

• 14mg daily for 6 weeks
• Then 7mg daily for 2 weeks

Total programme: approximately 8 weeks.

How to use:

Apply one patch each day, preferably after waking.

Apply to clean, dry and relatively hair-free skin, such as:

• Upper arm
• Chest
• Back

Press firmly onto the skin.

The patch is designed to be worn for 24 hours, but may be removed before bed after approximately 16 hours if preferred.

Use a different application site each day.

Do not apply to broken, irritated or inflamed skin.

Do not use more than one patch at a time unless specifically advised by a healthcare professional.

NiQuitin Pre-Quit Clear Patch 21mg

NiQuitin Pre-Quit Clear Patch is designed for people who find stopping smoking abruptly difficult and would prefer to reduce smoking before their quit date.

Strength:

• 21mg nicotine / 24 hours

It is intended for people smoking:

• 10 or more cigarettes per day

The patch can be worn while the person is still smoking during the pre-quit phase.

How to use:

Apply:

• 1 × 21mg patch daily

Use for:

• 2–4 weeks before the planned quit date

During this period, gradually reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.

Once the quit date is reached, stop smoking and move onto the normal NiQuitin step-down patch programme.

The Pre-Quit Patch is intended as a short-term preparation for quitting, not as indefinite combined smoking and nicotine-patch use.

NiQuitin Minis Lozenges

NiQuitin Minis are small, fast-dissolving nicotine lozenges designed for sudden cravings.

They dissolve in approximately 10 minutes and are supplied in convenient pocket-sized containers.

Available strengths:

• 2mg
• 4mg

Current flavours:

• Mint
• Citrus

Choosing a strength:

NiQuitin Minis 2mg

Generally suitable if you smoke:

• 20 cigarettes or fewer per day

NiQuitin Minis 4mg

Generally suitable if you smoke:

• More than 20 cigarettes per day

The 4mg strength can start relieving cravings in approximately 3 minutes.

How to use:

Place 1 lozenge in the mouth.

Allow it to dissolve completely, moving it periodically from one side of the mouth to the other.

Do not chew or swallow the lozenge whole.

Typical use:

• 8–12 lozenges per day

Maximum:

• 15 lozenges per day

Gradually reduce the number used as cravings become easier to manage.

NiQuitin Mint Lozenges

NiQuitin standard Lozenges provide nicotine through the lining of the mouth and are intended for sudden craving relief.

Available strengths:

• 2mg
• 4mg

Flavour:

• Mint

Choosing a strength:

2mg Lozenge

Generally recommended if your first cigarette is:

• More than 30 minutes after waking

4mg Lozenge

Generally recommended if your first cigarette is:

• Within 30 minutes of waking

This time-to-first-cigarette approach provides an indication of the level of nicotine dependence.

Typical 12-week programme:

Weeks 1–6:

• 1 lozenge every 1–2 hours
• Use at least approximately 9 per day
• Maximum 15 per day

Weeks 7–9:

• 1 lozenge every 2–4 hours

Weeks 10–12:

• 1 lozenge every 4–8 hours

Then discontinue.

If starting with 4mg lozenges, switching to the 2mg strength during the reduction phase may help with gradually reducing nicotine intake.

How to use:

Allow the lozenge to dissolve slowly in the mouth.

Move it periodically from one side of the mouth to the other.

Do not:

• Chew it
• Swallow it whole

NiQuitin Extra Fresh Mint Gum

NiQuitin Extra Fresh Mint Gum is an additional oral NRT format for nicotine craving relief.

Available strengths:

• 2mg
• 4mg

Choosing a strength:

2mg Gum

Usually appropriate if your first cigarette is:

• More than 30 minutes after waking

4mg Gum

Usually appropriate if your first cigarette is:

• Within 30 minutes of waking

Typical use:

• 8–12 pieces per day
• Maximum 15 pieces per day

Use only one piece at a time.

How to use nicotine gum:

Nicotine gum should not be chewed continuously like ordinary chewing gum.

Use the chew-and-rest technique:

1. Chew slowly until the taste becomes strong.
2. Stop chewing and rest the gum between the cheek and gum.
3. When the taste fades, begin chewing again.
4. Repeat until the nicotine has been released.

Do not eat or drink while chewing the gum, as this can affect nicotine absorption.

NiQuitin Dual NRT

For people who continue to experience significant cravings while using a patch alone, NiQuitin supports combining:

• A NiQuitin Clear Patch for continuous background craving control

with:

• NiQuitin Minis, or
• NiQuitin Lozenges

for breakthrough cravings.

This is known as combination NRT or dual NRT.

Using a long-acting patch together with an appropriate short-acting nicotine product can improve quit rates compared with using a patch alone.

The appropriate strength and dosage depend on the person's previous nicotine use and level of dependence.

Important information:

NiQuitin products contain nicotine, which is addictive.

They are designed to replace nicotine from smoking or other nicotine products temporarily while the user works towards becoming nicotine free.

Do not use NiQuitin if:

• You are allergic to nicotine or any ingredient in the individual product
• You are a non-smoker/non-nicotine user
• You are under 12 years of age

Young people aged 12–17 should seek professional advice if they are unable to stop nicotine use or require prolonged treatment.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor before use if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have recently had a heart attack
• Have unstable or worsening angina
• Have significant heart rhythm problems
• Have had a recent stroke
• Have severe liver disease
• Have severe kidney disease
• Have uncontrolled hyperthyroidism
• Have a phaeochromocytoma
• Have diabetes
• Take medicines whose dosage may be affected when smoking is stopped

Stopping smoking itself can alter the metabolism of some medicines, regardless of whether NRT is used.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding:

Stopping smoking is particularly important during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, seek advice from a doctor, pharmacist, midwife or stop-smoking professional before using NRT.

Stopping without nicotine replacement is preferable where possible, but NRT may be considered where an attempt to quit without it has not been successful.

The most appropriate NRT format should be selected individually.

Possible side effects:

Side effects depend on the product used and may include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Hiccups
• Indigestion
• Mouth or throat irritation
• Increased saliva
• Cough
• Sleep disturbance
• Vivid dreams
• Skin redness or irritation from patches

Some symptoms experienced during treatment may be caused by nicotine withdrawal rather than NiQuitin itself.

Nicotine overdose:

Too much nicotine may cause:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Increased saliva
• Sweating
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness

Stop using nicotine products and seek medical advice if significant symptoms of nicotine overdose occur.

Nicotine can be particularly dangerous to children, even in relatively small quantities.

Always keep unused and used nicotine products out of the sight and reach of children.

Storage and disposal:

Follow the instructions supplied with each individual NiQuitin product.

Generally:

• Store in the original packaging
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not use after the expiry date
• Keep patches in their individual sachets until required

Used patches still contain nicotine.

After removal:

• Fold the patch in half with the sticky surfaces together
• Dispose of it safely where children and animals cannot access it
• Wash hands after handling

Product type: Nicotine Replacement Therapy / Stop-Smoking Medicines

Active ingredient: Nicotine

Minimum age: Generally 12 years

Current core UK product formats:

• NiQuitin Clear Patch – 21mg / 24 hours
• NiQuitin Clear Patch – 14mg / 24 hours
• NiQuitin Clear Patch – 7mg / 24 hours
• NiQuitin Pre-Quit Clear Patch – 21mg / 24 hours
• NiQuitin Minis Mint Lozenges – 2mg
• NiQuitin Minis Mint Lozenges – 4mg
• NiQuitin Minis Citrus Lozenges – 2mg
• NiQuitin Minis Citrus Lozenges – 4mg
• NiQuitin Mint Lozenges – 2mg
• NiQuitin Mint Lozenges – 4mg

Additional NiQuitin format still referenced in current UK product information:

• NiQuitin Extra Fresh Mint Gum – 2mg
• NiQuitin Extra Fresh Mint Gum – 4mg

Brand: NiQuitin

UK company: Perrigo UK, London, United Kingdom

NiQuitin should be used as part of a genuine attempt to stop or reduce smoking or other nicotine use, with the ultimate aim of becoming nicotine free. Always follow the patient information leaflet supplied with the individual product.