Nicoderm CQ

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.

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.

Pregnancy

Breast Feeding

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 interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• Hypertension (high blood pressure), uncontrolled—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Blurred vision
• dizziness
• headache
• nervousness
• pounding in the ears

• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• hives, itching, rash, redness, or swelling of the skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

• Dizziness
• fast heartbeat
• nausea or vomiting
• weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Headache
• redness, itching, or burning at the application site

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• irritability or nervousness
• nausea or vomiting
• trouble sleeping or unusual dreams

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• If you have an allergy to nicotine or any other part of Nicoderm CQ (nicotine patch).
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have any of these health problems: Chest pain or pressure, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, or a recent heart attack.
• If you still smoke, chew tobacco, or use other products that have nicotine while using this medicine.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Nicoderm CQ.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this medicine with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Nicoderm CQ. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Get counseling to help you quit smoking.
• Do not use more than told. Unsafe side effects may happen.
• Tell your doctor if you are taking another drug to help you stop smoking.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• When you stop smoking, other drugs may be affected. Talk with your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you have not been able to quit smoking after using Nicoderm CQ for as long as it says to use it.
• The patch may have metal. Take off the patch before an MRI.
• This medicine may cause harm if swallowed. If this medicine is swallowed, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• This medicine may cause harm or be deadly if used or swallowed by children or pets. If a child uses Nicoderm CQ or if this medicine is swallowed by a child or pet, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• If you are 65 or older, use Nicoderm CQ with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

Use Nicoderm CQ as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• The patch comes in 3 doses. If you smoke 11 or more cigarettes a day start with the 21 mg patch (step 1). If you smoke 10 or less cigarettes a day start with the 14 mg patch (step 2).
• Put patch on clean, dry, healthy skin on the chest, back, belly, or upper arm. Move the site with each new patch.
• Put patch on a site without hair.
• Wash your hands after use.
• Keep each patch on for 16 to 24 hours.
• Do not leave on the skin for more than 24 hours.
• Do not put on more than 1 patch at a time.
• Do not use patches that are cut or do not look right.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not use 2 doses or extra doses.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• Store at room temperature.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.
• After you take off a skin patch, be sure to fold the sticky sides of the patch to each other.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this medicine, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take Nicoderm CQ (nicotine patch) or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to Nicoderm CQ. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.

Review Date: October 4, 2017