It’s Okay To InhaleIT’S OKAY TO INHALE
~ Launch of the new Nicorette* Inhaler Means Smokers can get a Handle on Their Cravings ~
| TORONTO, Ontario - June 01, 2004 |
Canadian smokers are actually encouraged to inhale with the news
today from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare that the Nicorette* Inhaler is now
approved and available in Canada. The Nicorette* Inhaler is an innovative
nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), designed to help smokers quit smoking by
reducing the urge to smoke while satisfying the hand-to-mouth ritual. Smokers
who seek therapeutic assistance with the Nicorette* Inhaler can double their
chances of success, when compared to placebo.
"The launch of the Nicorette* Inhaler is great news for smokers who want to quit - even those who may have failed either going 'cold turkey' or using another smoking cessation aid," says Harvey Leopold, a pharmacist in Whitby, Ontario. "Recognizing that smoking is both an addiction and a habit, the Nicorette* Inhaler reduces the craving to smoke, while also providing the comfort of the hand-to-mouth ritual. Quitting smoking is never easy but it can be done. With the desire and choosing the method right for them, smokers can free themselves from tobacco dependence." GETTING A HANDLE ON CRAVINGS Smokers repeat the hand-to-mouth ritual approximately 200 times a day, or 73,000 times a year. Available without a prescription, the Nicorette* Inhaler is the only smoking cessation product to wean smokers from both the primary reinforcement (nicotine) and the secondary reinforcement (hand-to-mouth). In a survey, 41 per cent of smokers said that one of the reasons their last quit attempt failed was because they missed the hand-to-mouth gratification they've come to depend on after years of smoking.1 Despite the increased awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and the growing number of anti-smoking campaigns, smoking continues to be a public health issue in Canada. An estimated 5.1 million Canadians - or 20 per cent of the population - continue to smoke today;2 smoking is responsible for one-in-five deaths in Canada alone.3 ABOUT THE NICORETTE* INHALER The Nicorette* Inhaler is the only NRT that weans the smoker from the hand-to-mouth habit. The Nicorette* Inhaler consists of a mouthpiece and a cartridge containing a nicotine-impregnated plug. The smoker inhales through the mouthpiece, using either shallow or deep puffs. The inhaled air contains nicotine, which is absorbed mainly through the mouth and throat, replacing a percentage of the nicotine that smokers would otherwise get from smoking. The inhaler releases less nicotine per puff than a cigarette; in this way, the withdrawal effects of not smoking are less severe. As the body adjusts to not smoking, the use of the nicotine inhaler is decreased gradually over several weeks. Finally, use is stopped altogether. "The Nicorette* Inhaler is a valuable smoking cessation tool, providing smokers with low levels of nicotine, without the harmful ingredients found in cigarettes such as tars and carbon monoxide, allowing them to break the smoking habit," adds Harvey Leopold. The recommended treatment with the Nicorette* Inhaler is six to 12 cartridges a day, for approximately three months. If necessary, this can be followed by a gradual reduction over the next six to 12 weeks. IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES WITH AN NRT Nicotine replacement therapies are effective stop-smoking medications that are approved by Health Canada - available in the form of nicotine gums (Nicorette*), nicotine patches (Nicoderm*), and now the Nicorette* Inhaler - without a prescription. The Nicorette* Inhaler is the only NRT in the form of an inhaler. The Nicorette* Inhaler, Nicorette* and Nicoderm* are safe for smokers when used as directed. They provide nicotine to the smoker without the dangerous toxins that are present in cigarettes and cigarette smoke. These toxins, not nicotine, are responsible for the vast majority of diseases caused by smoking. Statistics show that only five per cent of smokers who try to quit cold turkey will succeed.4 Smokers who seek therapeutic assistance with an NRT can double their chances of success when compared to placebo. ABOUT PFIZER CANADA INC. Pfizer Consumer Healthcare specializes in an extensive range of market-leading non-prescription healthcare products. With roots dating back to 1849, more than a century of innovation and consumer trust stand behind Pfizer products, including some of the most recognized and best-selling brands. From smoking cessation to cold and allergy relief and skin care, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare products are part of everyday life and also part of the Pfizer family. The most recognizable brands include: Nicorette*, Nicoderm*, Benylin*, Listerine*, Lubriderm*, Polysporin*, Reactine* and Zantac 75*. In Canada, Pfizer employs more than 2,300 people across the country. For more information, visit www.pfizer.ca. - 30 - For more information please contact:
1-866-9Pfizer (1-866-973-4937)
These press releases were issued in Canada and are intended as reference information for Canadians. The information contained in each press release was accurate at the time of issuance, and Pfizer Canada assumes no responsibility for updating the information to reflect subsequent developments. | 
