How much nicotine do I receive from a cigarette?

Your body receives approximately 1 milligram of nicotine from each cigarette. Remember the nicotine from cigarettes is absorbed very quickly and goes straight from the lungs to the brain.

If nicotine is the problem, why should I use a nicotine replacement?

Nicotine replacements don't contain any of the carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) that are found in cigarettes. This is why Nicorette and NicoDerm CQ are sold without a doctor's prescription, and why they have helped millions of smokers quit. Nicotine replacements give you a reduced amount of nicotine to help calm your cravings and irritability so you can focus on the emotional aspects of your habit.

Will I gain weight if I quit smoking?

When it comes to quitting smoking, weight gain is the #1 concern of women and the #2 concern of men. Even if you do gain a bit, it's nothing compared to all the good things you're doing for yourself. If you continue to gain weight after a few months, try to analyze what you're doing differently. Reduce your fat intake, choose healthy snacks, and increase your physical activity to burn off the extra calories. Drink lots of water. This is good for your body and skin.

I've tried to quit smoking several times, but it's never worked. Why can't I quit?

You can. You just haven't succeeded yet. Even if you've made it a day, a week, or a month — you've made it. Try to learn from your mistake. Figure out why you fell off the wagon so you can avoid putting yourself in similar situations in the future, choose a new quit date, and then try again. This time, you may be able to quit for good!

Why not quit “cold turkey”?

Going it alone, or trying to quit cold turkey, means relying solely on your willpower to quit. However, nicotine is so addictive that people often underestimate how difficult it is to resist cravings using willpower alone. Nicorette delivers a controlled amount of nicotine to your system to soothe your physical cravings and allows you to focus on mental aspects of your quit, which helps Double Your Chances of Quitting.

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How To Help a Friend Who's Trying to Quit Smoking

Sometimes people need a little help to get onto the path to quit smoking. Most people don’t ask for help, even if they need it. If you have a family member or friend who needs to stop smoking, here are some tips to getting the conversation started and what you can do to help.

Starting the Conversation

If you have a friend or family member you’d like to help quit smoking, just getting the conversation started can be the hardest part. Your goal should be to guide your friend into telling you they want to quit rather than you telling them they need to quit. To get the ball rolling, here are some tips to getting your friend or loved one to start talking about quitting smoking.

Get their permission to talk about their smoking habits by asking a question like “May I tell you what concerns me about your smoking?”
Ask open-ended questions, like “How would your life be different if you didn’t smoke?”
Be encouraging and offer affirmations, not judgments. “You really tried hard this week” or “You are such a strong person” are good places to start.
Listen reflectively by paraphrasing what they have said with no inflection, and hypothesize about what they are thinking and feeling.
Summarize what they’ve told you with phrases like “I’d like to try and pull together what you’ve said so far - let me know if I miss something important.”
The final step is to really find out what they’re thinking about the idea of quitting smoking. You can do this by asking questions like “So where does this leave you?” and “So what are you thinking at this point?”

Once the conversation has started, make sure you can explain the benefits of why your friend should quit smoking. What’s in it for them? Here are some of the very best reasons to quit smoking. Close

Starting the Conversation

If you have a friend or family member you’d like to help quit smoking, just getting the conversation started can be the hardest part. Your goal should be to guide your friend into telling you...Read More

Making a Plan

After you’ve broken the ice, so to speak, if your friend is ready to quit smoking, you can help them create a plan. Having it down on paper can really help make the plan to quit more “real” and help hold your friend accountable for their actions... Close

Making a Plan

After you’ve broken the ice, so to speak, if your friend is ready to quit smoking, you can help them create a plan. Having it down on paper can really help make the plan to quit more “real”...Read More

What are the main reasons why I have decided

to quit smoking? (examples: my health, my family, financial)

What are some things that have prevented me

from quitting in the past? (Examples: stress, habit, social settings)

Here are a few reasons that might make me want to smoke: (Waking up, Driving in the car, Alcohol, Coffee, Breaks after meals, Boredom, Stress, Other)

What challenges will I face in the next few months that might affect my quit attempt?

(Examples: family wedding, neighborhood party, out-of-town guests, fear of failure, fear of gaining weight, dealing with stress)

What strengths do I have that will help me succeed? (examples: I am strong-willed,goal-oriented)

If I feel the urge to smoke, I will _____ instead of smoking. (Examples: use Nicotine replacement therapy, drink a glass of water, count to 20, remember my reasons for quitting)

My daily affirmation or new way of thinking can be: (Examples: smoking isn’t an option, I see myself as a non-smoker)

My new behavior: (Examples: alter routines, plan ahead, keep busy)

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Help support a friend through withdrawal symptoms

When your friend or family member quits smoking, they will most likely experience some physical and/or psychological withdrawal symptoms. These vary by person, but for most people, the worst of the symptoms only last a few days to a couple of weeks. Knowing what some of these nicotine withdrawal symptoms are can enable you to help your friend through them:

Depressed mood

Insomnia

Anxiety

Poor concentration

Restlessness

Irritability

Hunger

If you see signs of withdrawal, you can help support your friend by:

Reminding them that these symptoms are temporary
Going for a walk with them – physical activity can help distract from withdrawal symptoms
Recommending meditation or other relaxation techniques
Spending time with them, go out to eat or go see a movie
Helping them avoid contact with other friends who smoke
Reminding them of all they’ll gain by quitting
Encouraging them to talk to their healthcare provider about nicotine replacement therapy(NRT) like Nicorette or NicoDerm CQ

According to the National Cancer Institute, NRT delivers measured doses of nicotine, which helps to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms people may experience when they quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy is an effective treatment that can increase the likelihood of quitting smoking.

Help support a friend through withdrawal symptoms

When your friend or family member quits smoking, they will most likely experience some physical and/or psychological withdrawal symptoms. These vary by person, but for most people, the worst of the symptoms only last a few days to a couple of weeks. ...Read More

Get support from Nicorette and NicoDerm CQ

Adding a nicotine replacement like Nicorette or NicoDerm CQ to your quit plan can give you the extra support you need on your journey to quit smoking.

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Behavioral support program increases chances of success. Use as directed.

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