FAQs

Section Contents:

__________________________________________________

Who is paying for or sponsoring the study?
The study is funded primarily by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion.

Who is in charge of the study?
The Principal Investigator is Dr. Peter Selby, a physician and researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.  Dr. Beth Sproule, an Advanced Pharmacist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, is a Co-Investigator in this phase of the study.

How is my information going to be used?
The information you provide will be used to assess the effectiveness of providing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) through community pharmacies. This information will be reported as group data only – that is, no single persons data will be presented or reported on.

Who is going to be contacting me after I finish the 5-week study?
An online survey will be email to you by the STOP Study team at 5-weeks, 6-months and 1-year after you have completed the study.  Otherwise, you may be contacted by phone by a member of the STOP Study team to complete the follow-up surveys.

What if I don’t want to answer the survey questions?
You may choose not to answer some of the survey questions.  However, some questions are mandatory in order to determine your eligibility to participate in the study and to ensure we are able to contact you for follow up.  You will be prompted to answer only mandatory questions if you happen to miss one when completing the survey.  All information collected in the survey is strictly confidential and will be stored in a secure, password-protected database.  Only the STOP Study staff will be able to access your data.  

What if I start smoking again after I finish the study or I don’t manage to quit at all? Do I still have to complete the surveys?
YES. We are interested in everyone who signed up to participate in the study, even if you don’t complete the full 5-weeks of NRT or start smoking again.

Who will have access to the information I provide? For how long?
The STOP Study staff will have access to your files that contain the information that you provide. However, your file will only be identified by your subject number and your initials. It will not contain any information that could identify you.

What does “do I consent to being contacted for future studies” mean?
If you check this box, your name and phone number will be added to a database of people interested in participating in research. You may or may no be contacted for future studies. If you are contacted, you may refuse to participate in the study being offered. Please remember that this is not to consent to being contacted for follow-up surveys as part of the STOP study.

What if I wish to withdraw from the study?
Your participation in the study is completely voluntary and you may withdraw from the study at any time.  Please notify your respective pharmacist or contact the STOP Study team if you wish to withdraw from the study.
__________________________________________

Is NRT safe?
Nicotine is not the harmful substance in cigarettes. It is the thousands of other poisons in tobacco that cause most of the tobacco-related diseases. Nicotine has not been shown to cause cancer or any other illness.

Am I just switching my addiction from cigarettes to NRT?
Cigarettes are far more addictive than nicotine gum or the patch because of the way in which they deliver nicotine. Smoking cigarettes is the most addictive method of nicotine delivery.  Because nicotine is absorbed through the lungs, it takes only 10-19 seconds for the drug to reach the brain. The patch delivers nicotine through the skin much more slowly, in lower doses, and more evenly than cigarettes. Because of the rate and route of drug delivery, NRT has little addictive potential.

How long should I use the NRT?
You have been sent 5 weeks of NRT. We advise that you use all your medication while you quit smoking. You may also need to purchase additional NRT if you are still experiencing cravings or withdrawal after 5 weeks. The standard treatment is 10 weeks of NRT. However, some people will use it for longer periods of time. Talk to your doctor or pharmacists about your specific needs.

Can I smoke while using nicotine replacement therapy?
If you are trying to quit smoking, you should consider using other strategies to help you cope with cravings. If you start to feel sick, nauseous or dizzy, you may be getting too much nicotine. If this happens, decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke or stop completely.

What should I do if I get a rash or irritation from using the Nicoderm patch?
Sometimes the adhesive used on the patch can cause irritation. A slight amount of redness or itching is normal and should improve after a few days. If it does not, you can apply some cream or lotion to help soothe the irritation or ask your doctor about special cream. Put the patch on different areas of your body each day.

The patch does not stick very well to my skin.
Select a non-hairy, non-irritated area of your skin. Make sure it is clean and dry and avoid using soap or lotions and creams on the area. It helps to clean that area of your skin with alcohol wipe before applying the patch but make sure it is very dry. If it still does not stick, try medical adhesive tape to help keep the patch on. This can be purchased at your local pharmacy.  Avoid placing it on hair areas of the skin. 

Should I take my patch off at bedtime?
You can keep the patch on for twenty-four (24) hours. This is recommended so that you are not in withdrawal when you wake up the next morning.

I’m having nightmares since I started using the patch?
This can happen to some people. Usually the nightmares go away. If they are very troubling, you can remove the patch before bedtime and put a new one on in the morning.

Can I swim or shower if I’m wearing the patch?
Yes you can definitely do both. Getting wet will not interfere with the effectiveness of the patch.

How safe is absorbing nicotine through the skin?
There are no risks associated with this type of nicotine delivery.

I think I’m ready to stop using the NRT?
Everyone’s treatment is different. You may not be experiencing cravings anymore because the NRT is working at that dose. You should follow the recommendations as closely as possible. However, if you want to test whether you are ready to decrease your dose, ask yourself “Have I been in a situation which is usually tempting to smoke and have been able to not smoke?” If you are able to do this, then you may be ready to go to the next step.

I chew the gum and get stomach pain, discomfort or hiccups.
The irritation is probably due to swallowing too much nicotine. To get the best effect from the gum and the least stomach discomfort, make sure you are chewing it correctly. Place the gum in your mouth, chew the gum a few times and then park it between your gums and your cheek. Allow the nicotine to be absorbed into your cheek and try not to swallow.  Repeat the chewing every minute or so. Chew only one piece of gum at a time and no more than one piece every hour. Avoid caffeine or acidic products if you are using the Nicorette gum.

What should I do if I swallow a piece of Nicorette Gum?
Nicorette gum releases nicotine only when chewed. You should not experience any harmful effects if you swallow the gum. If a child swallows or comes into contact with any of your NRT, you should contact your doctor or local poison centre as soon as possible. Nicotine can be lethal to small children and pets even in small doses.

I get stomach pain or discomfort when using the Nicorette Inhaler.
The irritation is probably due to swallowing too much nicotine. To get the best effect from the inhaler and the least stomach discomfort, make sure you are using it correctly. Do not use the inhaler like a cigarette, rather puff on the inhaler.  Do not swallow as the nicotine should get absorbed through the inside of your cheeks. You may notice a burning, warm or cool sensation when puffing. This is a potential side effect but is not serious.

What should I do if I can’t quit smoking?
Quitting smoking is a process. NRT can increase the chances of quitting but it is more effective if you combine the NRT with counselling. You can call the Smoker’s Helpline for counselling or talk to your health provider for more support. There is a list of resources attached for your information.