cookiepls
07-17-2005, 02:46 PM
Does anyone know why the nicotrol inhalers require a prescription but the patches, gum, and lozenges do not? I want to try the inhalers as I've tried everything else, but I don't have insurance right now.
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HELLASRULES
07-17-2005, 06:52 PM
Hi, my only guess would be because as an inhalant, they don't want it used if you have some pre-existing lung problem. Even though you have no health insurance, do you have a doctor who has seen you before? A phone call might be enough for the dr to prescribe it, if he knows you.
cookiepls
07-17-2005, 06:59 PM
Hi, my only guess would be because as an inhalant, they don't want it used if you have some pre-existing lung problem. Even though you have no health insurance, do you have a doctor who has seen you before? A phone call might be enough for the dr to prescribe it, if he knows you.
Sadly, no. That was a couple of years ago when I had insurance. I've since moved to CA.
Sadly, no. That was a couple of years ago when I had insurance. I've since moved to CA.
Tobias
07-17-2005, 10:11 PM
Nicotine patches and gum were once available only by Rx so maybe the situation for inhalers will also change some day.
Just for the heck of it I looked up prices for nicotrol inhalers, nicoderm clear 21 mg patches, and nicorette 4 mg gum. Nicotrol (it's also available as a nose spray) seems to run around .70 per cartridge when purchased in large quantities and .75 for smaller quantities. The maximum usage per day permitted is 16 cartridges so maximum level usage of this product could cost $11-$12 per day at this rate. I imagine many wouldn't use this many cartridges per day.
For comparison's sake, I compared maximum usage costs for nicorette 4 mg gum. Maximum safe usage is given as 24 per day. This brand of gum (generics and store brands do cost considerably less) costs about .45/piece so max usage would cost between $10-11 per day.
Last, there's nicoderm clear patch - 21 mg patch used for step 1. One patch is used per day and each patch costs about $3.57. This is by far the cheapest nic replacement product and here also, generic and store brands cost less than the branded product.
This comparison shows that there's not a whole lot of difference between gum and the inhaler when maximum usage rates are compared.
Not sure that this info will help you much except to illustrate that the inhaler doesn't necessarily cost all that much more than gum. But the doctor appointment would, of course, be an added cost.
Just for the heck of it I looked up prices for nicotrol inhalers, nicoderm clear 21 mg patches, and nicorette 4 mg gum. Nicotrol (it's also available as a nose spray) seems to run around .70 per cartridge when purchased in large quantities and .75 for smaller quantities. The maximum usage per day permitted is 16 cartridges so maximum level usage of this product could cost $11-$12 per day at this rate. I imagine many wouldn't use this many cartridges per day.
For comparison's sake, I compared maximum usage costs for nicorette 4 mg gum. Maximum safe usage is given as 24 per day. This brand of gum (generics and store brands do cost considerably less) costs about .45/piece so max usage would cost between $10-11 per day.
Last, there's nicoderm clear patch - 21 mg patch used for step 1. One patch is used per day and each patch costs about $3.57. This is by far the cheapest nic replacement product and here also, generic and store brands cost less than the branded product.
This comparison shows that there's not a whole lot of difference between gum and the inhaler when maximum usage rates are compared.
Not sure that this info will help you much except to illustrate that the inhaler doesn't necessarily cost all that much more than gum. But the doctor appointment would, of course, be an added cost.
HELLASRULES
07-17-2005, 11:26 PM
Hi Again Cookie, Well, I've used the patch, gum, etc too with no success, but have recently bought the patch to try again (as soon as I can get my mind in gear to stop).
I think the key with any stop-smoking aid is that it will work, if you have set your mind to quitting and you can deal with all the withdrawal symptoms. THere are other options to quitting too, which you maybe haven't tried (And nether have I), like acupuncture, hypnosis. ANd they're are also herbal stop-smoking products, which could help. I'm still not certain that replacing one source of nicotine (cigarettes) with another is the best route to go (for me at least). I'm always looking for other options.
It would be nice if there were an easy answer to quitting. But it's just plain hard.
I think the key with any stop-smoking aid is that it will work, if you have set your mind to quitting and you can deal with all the withdrawal symptoms. THere are other options to quitting too, which you maybe haven't tried (And nether have I), like acupuncture, hypnosis. ANd they're are also herbal stop-smoking products, which could help. I'm still not certain that replacing one source of nicotine (cigarettes) with another is the best route to go (for me at least). I'm always looking for other options.
It would be nice if there were an easy answer to quitting. But it's just plain hard.
cookiepls
07-18-2005, 12:20 AM
Hellasrules, I hear ya. It IS hard. I'm glad you're not giving up though.
Tried:
The patch
Nicorette Gum
Hypnosis (Group & self)
Books on how to quit
Tapering filters (popular in the 80's)
Poking holes in filters (I don't know why)
Wellbutrin
Cold turkey
Herbal Cigarettes
Haven't Tried:
Inhaler
accupuncture
I don't have any faith in the acu-puncture, but there's several clinical trials going on for new drugs that gives me some hope. One is a new drug called TA-NIC that's supposed to cause your immune system to block the nicotine from reaching the brain. There are others too but that's the one that stood out to me.
Tried:
The patch
Nicorette Gum
Hypnosis (Group & self)
Books on how to quit
Tapering filters (popular in the 80's)
Poking holes in filters (I don't know why)
Wellbutrin
Cold turkey
Herbal Cigarettes
Haven't Tried:
Inhaler
accupuncture
I don't have any faith in the acu-puncture, but there's several clinical trials going on for new drugs that gives me some hope. One is a new drug called TA-NIC that's supposed to cause your immune system to block the nicotine from reaching the brain. There are others too but that's the one that stood out to me.
Johnsternow
07-18-2005, 12:52 AM
Cookiepls,
I looked at some of the prices someone listed about the cost of those inhalers. I don’t know about CA but them things were over $6 a pack in Chicago land. Even 2 packs a day costs more than the figures I just seen.
I will share a secret with you that I think helped me a little. I know you seen my quote to Debbie on “Benefits So Far 3.5 Days” Reply #2 All those 600+ chemicals added to cigarettes to keep you more addicted? Before I quit I asked someone to buy my same famous brand cigarettes from Poland for less money. There may be other countries there but I knew it was illegal for the same manufacturers to add anything but tobacco to those cigarettes sold there. To me they tasted better at the time. Anyway, after smoking them a short wile I quit and went on the patch for a week. Afterwards I hated the smell and could taste the patch in my mouth even and it grossed me out so went cold turkey. It was rough but not as rough as past quits. Maybe it’s me but I believed and still do that it helped me???
In any case dear you need to be committed to start and do it for YOU!!! Not CA, your hubby, or the rude mean woman cookouts. You need to hate it and want to have it let go of you for good. We will be here to help you if you need but you must go for it for you!!!!
Good Luck and God Bless
John
I looked at some of the prices someone listed about the cost of those inhalers. I don’t know about CA but them things were over $6 a pack in Chicago land. Even 2 packs a day costs more than the figures I just seen.
I will share a secret with you that I think helped me a little. I know you seen my quote to Debbie on “Benefits So Far 3.5 Days” Reply #2 All those 600+ chemicals added to cigarettes to keep you more addicted? Before I quit I asked someone to buy my same famous brand cigarettes from Poland for less money. There may be other countries there but I knew it was illegal for the same manufacturers to add anything but tobacco to those cigarettes sold there. To me they tasted better at the time. Anyway, after smoking them a short wile I quit and went on the patch for a week. Afterwards I hated the smell and could taste the patch in my mouth even and it grossed me out so went cold turkey. It was rough but not as rough as past quits. Maybe it’s me but I believed and still do that it helped me???
In any case dear you need to be committed to start and do it for YOU!!! Not CA, your hubby, or the rude mean woman cookouts. You need to hate it and want to have it let go of you for good. We will be here to help you if you need but you must go for it for you!!!!
Good Luck and God Bless
John
cookiepls
07-18-2005, 01:42 PM
I did read it. I read it years ago too when a friend was trying to help me quit. I read something yesterday on WebMD that really hit home. It was a doctor saying that nicotine is so addictive that people will give up their life for it. I know for a fact that's true. We lost a long-time friend to emphesmia a few years ago. Worse yet, my sister has emphesmia and can't quit either. She's only a year and a half older than me.
Your secret really rings a bell with me. My mom smoked for over 30 years. She was laid off from her job and was pretty broke when a friend brought her some "chocolate cigarettes". I don't know what they were or where she got them, but my mom smoked them, then quit for good. I think it has something to do with making a change in what you smoke. Not just a different brand, but something really different? Something for me to think about.
I'm going to do a search for cigarettes without the chemicals. If I can't lay the cigarettes down immediatley, I might as well be smoking them without all the added (and deadly) chemicals until I can quit. I'm getting psyched!
:bouncing: :bouncing: Thank you John!!! :bouncing: :bouncing:
Your secret really rings a bell with me. My mom smoked for over 30 years. She was laid off from her job and was pretty broke when a friend brought her some "chocolate cigarettes". I don't know what they were or where she got them, but my mom smoked them, then quit for good. I think it has something to do with making a change in what you smoke. Not just a different brand, but something really different? Something for me to think about.
I'm going to do a search for cigarettes without the chemicals. If I can't lay the cigarettes down immediatley, I might as well be smoking them without all the added (and deadly) chemicals until I can quit. I'm getting psyched!
:bouncing: :bouncing: Thank you John!!! :bouncing: :bouncing:
CARAT414
07-18-2005, 04:47 PM
Just felt I had some info to share.
I have a close friend who is now 52. He smoked about 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day depending on the stress level at work. He started when he was 12 years old and had tried just about every method that came around. He was actually hospitalized once with the patch, because he was smoking on top of wearing the patch and it was to much nicotine for his body and he passed out.
He went the saturday before Thanksgiving and did laser accupressure. They placed a laser light that looked like a pen at different points on his ears, nose, wrists and thumb. It took all of 20 minutes and he hasn't had a cigarette since the one he smoked in his truck while waiting for his appointment time. He said that he did still have the habit of needing something in his hands, but the physical part of the withdrawals wasn't there. He played with a childs toy called "Tangles" while he watch TV or was on the phone to help with the hand fidgetting thing.
It was 299.00 here in NV. Dont know if it varies across the country or if it is even available everywhere else. The place was called Laser something. You could try to research it on the web.
Good Luck to all of you who are trying to quit. Kudos to those who have.
C
I have a close friend who is now 52. He smoked about 1 1/2 to 2 packs a day depending on the stress level at work. He started when he was 12 years old and had tried just about every method that came around. He was actually hospitalized once with the patch, because he was smoking on top of wearing the patch and it was to much nicotine for his body and he passed out.
He went the saturday before Thanksgiving and did laser accupressure. They placed a laser light that looked like a pen at different points on his ears, nose, wrists and thumb. It took all of 20 minutes and he hasn't had a cigarette since the one he smoked in his truck while waiting for his appointment time. He said that he did still have the habit of needing something in his hands, but the physical part of the withdrawals wasn't there. He played with a childs toy called "Tangles" while he watch TV or was on the phone to help with the hand fidgetting thing.
It was 299.00 here in NV. Dont know if it varies across the country or if it is even available everywhere else. The place was called Laser something. You could try to research it on the web.
Good Luck to all of you who are trying to quit. Kudos to those who have.
C
cookiepls
07-18-2005, 05:07 PM
C,
I'm so glad your friend was finally able to quit with laser accupressure. At 52 years old, he probably had it rougher than I do. Even when I was using the patch, I at least took it off to smoke a cigarette. Your friend was truly addicted in a big way. I'm really happy to hear that he's off them for good.
John,
I did an internet search to try and find the chemicals added to cigarettes in other countries but haven't found anything yet. However, I did find a website selling Indian made cigarettes with zero addatives. And........it's right here in CA.
I'm so glad your friend was finally able to quit with laser accupressure. At 52 years old, he probably had it rougher than I do. Even when I was using the patch, I at least took it off to smoke a cigarette. Your friend was truly addicted in a big way. I'm really happy to hear that he's off them for good.
John,
I did an internet search to try and find the chemicals added to cigarettes in other countries but haven't found anything yet. However, I did find a website selling Indian made cigarettes with zero addatives. And........it's right here in CA.
Johnsternow
07-18-2005, 05:35 PM
Good for you!!! I'm not sure about which other countries do outlaw it but as I said before U.S. and England ALLOW over 600!!! Most say those additives are even more addictive than the nicotine. I don't know for sure but it helped me and made perfect sense. Who adds more chemicals to anything to create more expense for nothing? That was another thing that made me even more angry and determined to put them away for good.
Good luck. We are all rooting for ya all the way!!!!! :bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing:
Good luck. We are all rooting for ya all the way!!!!! :bouncing: :bouncing: :bouncing: