Why do I need a prescription for this? - Smoking Cessation Message Board

cookiepls · 07-17-2005, 11:46 AM

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.

HELLASRULES · 07-17-2005, 03:52 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, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLASRULES

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.

Tobias · 07-17-2005, 07:11 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.

HELLASRULES · 07-17-2005, 08:26 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.