Deciding to stop smoking is an important and difficult choice. It’s also important that you choose the approach that will work best for you.
You may decide to quit smoking completely or to reduce how many cigarettes you smoke gradually over time. If you decide to quit gradually, you’ll want to know how to use a NICORETTE® product and break quitting into manageable chunks.
We believe that you’re doing something amazing by quitting smoking. Quitting is a journey, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Things to Consider About Quitting Gradually
When deciding whether to quit gradually, you’ll want to think about these things:
You gain the flexibility to reduce your habit bit by bit.
You will find yourself celebrating “small victories” while strengthening your confidence.
You take positive steps to quit smoking allowing “slips ups”.
You maintain your life closest to “normal” while advancing through your own journey.
How Reduce to Quit Works
Reduce to Quit is when you gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke while managing your nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms with a NICORETTE® product until you’re ready to quit for good.
We suggest aiming to give up smoking completely in six months. However, that’s only a guide. If you haven’t stopped smoking completely after six months, please see your health care professional.
Reducing to Quit Suggestions
Here are suggestions for your Reduce to Quit approach:
0 to 6 weeks – Ease into It
Identify the cigarettes that matter the least in your daily routine and replace them with a NICORETTE® product by finding the best one for you.
6 to 16 weeks – Cut Down by 50%
Set goals to try and get rid of some of the cigarettes that are more difficult to give up, like the first one of the day or after a meal, and use a NICORETTE® product to manage the cravings and withdrawal symptoms you're bound to experience.
By 16 weeks, you should aim to be smoking half the amount of daily cigarettes as when you started following this approach.
6 to 24 weeks – The Home Stretch
Continue to eliminate cigarettes from your daily routine while managing your nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms with a NICORETTE® product.
Congratulations on getting this far. During these last three months, you will have decreased your dependence on cigarettes and will be more ready to give them up entirely.
Once you've quit for good, if you have the occasional urge to smoke, use a NICORETTE® product to get you through.
