You should start using the nasal spray after your last cigarette.

Every morning prime the spray by placing the nozzle of the spray bottle between your first and second finger with your thumb on the bottom of the bottle. Press quickly and firmly downwards on the sides of the bottle to see the fine spray.

Insert the tip of the nozzle well into the nostril, pointing towards the back of the nose (parallel to the profile of your nose). Press quickly to deliver the spray. Repeat the proceedure with the other nostril.

The spray can irritate the nose and throat at first. Do not be put off by this. Most people adapt to it very well after persisting for a day or two, but it may take up to a week to get used to it.

The liquid in the bottle contains nicotine, which reaches your blood stream after being absorbed through the lining of your nose. Peak levels of nicotine are reached about 10-15 minutes after the shot of spray.

Do not wait until you feel the urge to smoke before you use the spray. Use one or two shots of spray in each nostril every hour. This is about 30 shots (15 in each nostril) a day. Use at least 30 shots of spray a day during the first week. You can also use the nasal spray if you get a sudden urge to smoke.

This will enable your body to absorb about half of the average smoking levels of nicotine. This is enough to be of substantial help in reducing or removing the urge to smoke and withdrawal symptoms.

Using 2 or 3 shots of the spray a day is unlikely to be helpful.

Each bottle delivers about 200 sprays and should last about 6 days. The nicotine nasal spray should be used fully for at least 8 - 12 weeks after stopping smoking. The dose should be gradually reduced over the last 2 weeks of treatment.

For information on:

nicotine products that are available and their prices click here.

the side effects of NRT click here.