Nicotrol

Generic name:nicotine (transdermal route) [ NIK-oh-teen ]
Drug class:Smoking cessation agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 22, 2021.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Habitrol
• Nicoderm CQ
• Nicotrol

In Canada

• Nicoderm

Available Dosage Forms:

• Patch, Extended Release

Therapeutic Class: Smoking Cessation Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Cholinergic System

Uses for Nicotrol

Nicotine skin patches are used to help you stop smoking. Nicotine is absorbed from the patch on the skin and enters the blood stream. This replaces the nicotine you would get from smoking and makes the withdrawal effects from not smoking less severe. The amount of nicotine is decreased over time until use is stopped.

This medicine is available without a prescription, but proof of age (18 years or older) is required.

Before using Nicotrol

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of nicotine skin patches in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Small amounts of nicotine can cause serious unwanted effects in children, and patches contain enough nicotine to cause problems, including used patches.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of nicotine skin patches in geriatric patients.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Tegafur

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since i...