The Plastic fag (Nicorette Inhalater)

Member Name: Donf18

Product:	Nicorette Inhalater
Date:	31/10/05 (2223 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helps a lot. Fills in the habit of hand to mouth

Disadvantages: looks a bit stupid, but I can live with that

37 years ago at the age of 14 I tried something that was to take control of my life. I had my first cigarette, I wish now that I hadn't but I did and am now suffering the consequences. I often find it hard to get a good deep breath. Most exercise tires me out quickly. I smell like a skinking ashtray, and my money is dwindling or rather smouldering away at a rapid rate of knots.

So today October the 1st 2005 I am taking the first step to regain control of my health. I'm going to stop smoking. I know the next few weeks or months are going to be perhaps the roughest I've had. I shall however have considerable help from a little plastic tube filled with a cartridge which will provide me with the nicotine to which I am currently addicted. This little tube is the Nicorette inhalator supplied by my Stop smoking group.

I visited the group on Tuesday past to get advice and a prescription for the inhaler. There were 2 nurses there for both support and medical advice. It was a very casual meeting and everyone there was suffering the same problems all smokers have when they eventually decide to stop the habit.

A course of inhalators would normally cost in the region of £29 per week, I am getting 4 weeks treatment for the price of a prescription. This will be dispensed on a weekly basis so that should I fail in my attempt to stop the inhalators won't be wasted and someone else may still benefit from them.

Apparently most smokers fail on their first attempt, so I am not kidding myself here, but I will give it my best shot. Currently I smoke around 25-30 fags a day costing me something like £5. Out of that 25 cigarettes I perhaps enjoy 8 the rest simply are habit ones that are smoked without even thinking. Like the one you have while typing a review or reading a book.

The Inhalators come in a starter pack which contains 6 nicorette nicotine cartridges. These are about the thickness of a biro and about one inch long. They are clear plastic tubes containing a swab of tightly packed cotton impregnated with nicotine. The ends of this tube are sealed with metal foil. The actual inhalator is slightly larger to facilitate in insertion of the cartridge.

A small twist of one end and a quick pull and the inhalator opens to allow the insertion. On closing the inhaler the seal is broken allowing the user to puff on the inhalator to extract the nicotine as one would while smoking a cigarette. It is advised that you should use beteen 6 and 12 cartridges a day if you smoked over 20 cigarettes. I was given the starter pack and a further 42 cartridges to last me for the first week. The 42 other cartridges also come with a replacement inhalator, just in case you've chewed the hell out of the first one LOL

Each cartridge contains a small amount of methol to give the user the sensation on the back of the throat associated with the inhalation of a puff from a cigarette. I'm not going to kid you by saying it tastes the same as a cigarette but it is not unpleasant and does taste a bit like nicotine.

So when I rise tomorrow my first instinct to light a cigarette will result in a few puffs from the inhalator instead. The stoping smoking part doesn't really bother me too much , it's the what I'm going to do to replace the habit that seems to be my main problem. So if anyone out there has a brilliant idea as to how this problem could be resolved I'd be extremely grateful.

37 years is a long time to have been partner to the same habit so only time and a bit of help from my little plastic friend will tell. Obviously a bit of will power is going to help the whole process. It's probably the biggest challenge I've ever undertaken or will take, but's I think it's one I shall achieve.

It's now Saturday morning and the fateful day has arrived, The inhalator seems to be doing it's job reasonably well, My nerves seem to be holding out and all seems OK just now. When luchtime and coffee time come round I'm going to have to find something to do before insanity creeps it's weary way into my ever confused mind.

If over the coming weeks my reviews have a bit less humour please forgive me I will resume normal service as soon as possible.

I will of course update this review to keep you informed of my progress and the usefulness of the inhalator which I do believe will be of great comfort mentally and hopefully the same medically.

Day One Update

Well day one in and I'm feeling pretty good, I've had the inhalator in my mouth for a lot of the day. I have only changed the cartridge 5 times instead of the recommended 6 - 12. For some strange reason I have not had any really strong urges to have a cigarette, a few small urges, but a few puffs on the inhaler and I've been fine. It's going far better than I anticipated so I'm figuring on having a real crappy day tomorrow. If however all days are going to be like today ( which is unlikely ) then I am extremely confident of stopping.


Day Two Update

Today was nowhere near as easy as yesterday, once again I've only used 6 cartridges, but my urges to have a cigarette have been much stronger. Nevertheless I have not succumbed and am still a non smoker. From 3-4 this afternoon I thought I was definately going to nip up the corner shop and get 10 fags, I was absolutely climbing up the wall. It was during this time that I used 2 of the 6 cartridges. The inhalator is without doubt a great help, not just for the nicotine it supplies but also as a comforter. So, so far good news. Tomorrow will be my first work day being a non smoker so this could be the big test.

+ 1 Month
Having the odd hiccup but still trying hard. The Inhalator makes a big difference.

Summary: Helps a lot with the habits/routines and gives you a nicotine dose