Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 Search

		Submit


*Tips From Former Smokers* ®








How to Use the Nicotine Oral Inhaler						Español (Spanish)							Print
																Related Pages
					There are seven medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you quit. They work in different ways. All have been shown to be safe and effective for adults who smoke cigarettes.
These quit-smoking medicines include nicotine replacement medicines (the nicotine patch, lozenge, gum, oral inhaler, and nasal spray) and pill medicines (varenicline and bupropion SR).
Some other strategies, with or without medicines, can help you quit as well.
Select an FDA-approved medicine or a quitting strategy to learn more:Choose hereNicotine PatchNicotine LozengeNicotine GumNicotine Oral InhalerNicotine Nasal SprayCombining MedicinesVareniclineBupropion SRGetting Coaching with MedicineQuitting without Medicine
Nicotine Oral Inhalernicotine oral inhaler
The nicotine oral inhaler is a small plastic tube shaped like a fat cigarette. You need a prescription for it. You puff frequently on it with shallow puffs throughout the day. Unlike an asthma inhaler, the medicine is not inhaled into the lungs. The nicotine is absorbed mostly in the back of your throat. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you detailed instructions on how to use it. They can also help you set and adjust your dose.How to UseQuick TipsPros and ConsSide EffectsHow to Use Nicotine Oral Inhaler to Quit SmokingAudio Description Low Resolution Video
The nicotine oral inhaler is a prescription medicine approved by the FDA to help people quit smoking. When your doctor prescribes it, they will give you detailed instructions on how to use it and help you set and adjust your dose. This video offers general instructions on how to use the nicotine oral inhaler. This video is part of a collaboration with the National Cancer Institute’s Smokefree.gov Initiative.
**You’ll need a prescription**from a prescribing healthcare provider for the nicotine oral inhaler.
**The nicotine oral inhaler may look similar to a cigarette, but you need to use it differently.**You do not need to inhale as deeply for the medicine to work. Do not inhale into the lungs like a cigarette, and **do not use it like a traditional asthma inhaler**. Instead, take frequent, short, and shallow puffs from the inhaler, similar to how you might sip from a straw. Use the inhaler for four 5-minute sessions, or continually for about 20 minutes (which is about how long one cartridge will last).
**Use the nicotine oral inhaler often enough, as directed by your doctor or other healthcare provider, to help control cravings for cigarettes.** To ensure that your body gets enough nicotine to ease your withdrawal symptoms, use at least 6 cartridges per day for the first 3 to 6 weeks. Do not consume more than 16 cartridges each day. Your doctor can help you set and adjust your dose and can talk about gradually reducing your dose when you are ready.
**Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes before using the inhaler, or during use**.
**Keep out of reach of children and pets.** Nicotine oral inhaler cartridges may have enough nicotine to make children and pets sick. When you are done using the inhaler, be sure to leave it in the locked position and store it out of reach of children and pets. When the cartridge is empty, immediately throw it in a secured trashcan that cannot be accessed by children and/or pets. In case of accidental use or ingestion, contact a Poison Control Center right away (1-800-222-1222).
**Quitting smoking may make some people depressed or anxious, whether quitting with medication or not.** Get help if you have feelings of depression or anxiety that last for more than two weeks or that get worse.
**Learn more about the****nicotine oral inhaler****, including side effects and precautions.**nicotine inhalerPhoto from mayoclinic.org used with permission of Mayo Clinic; no product endorsement implied.
**Consider combining the nicotine oral inhaler with nicotine patches**if you continue to have withdrawal symptoms. Patches can provide a steady level of nicotine in the body to help lessen withdrawal, while the inhaler can be used to more quickly relieve cravings as they occur. You may need to use the inhaler less often if you are also using a patch.
**If you have strong cravings while using the nicotine oral inhaler, make sure you are using it often enough**. If you smoke regularly, it’s best to use at least 6 cartridges a day for the first 3 to 6 weeks, and you can use up to 16 cartridges per day. You can also consider adding the nicotine patch, as discussed above.
**What if I slip up and smoke while using the nicotine oral inhaler?** You do not need to stop using the nicotine oral inhaler if you slip up and smoke. Throw away your cigarettes and get back on track with your quit attempt. Keep using the nicotine inhaler as directed.
**How is the nicotine oral inhaler different than an e-cigarette?**While the nicotine inhaler might seem a bit like an e-cigarette, there are some important differences. The nicotine inhaler has been an FDA-approved quit-smoking medicine for more than 20 years. The nicotine oral inhaler is regulated, and science has shown it is both safe and effective. Also, nicotine inhaled through the nicotine oral inhaler is not intended to be inhaled into the lungs—it is designed to be delivered into the mouth and throat area where it is absorbed. In contrast, e-cigarettes are tobacco products that are not FDA-approved as quit-smoking medicines and the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use are unknown. Learn more about e-cigarettes.
**For best results, use the nicotine oral inhaler as part of a program that includes coaching support.** Talk with your healthcare provider and connect with your state tobacco quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) for help.Pros:
Can be used regularly and when you feel withdrawal symptoms or urges coming on.
Acts faster than nicotine patch or quit-smoking pills.
Can be used with the patch to deal with breakthrough urges.
You control how often you use it, so you won’t get more nicotine than you want.
May help substitute for a cigarette because you put it in your mouth.Cons:
You have to remember to use it regularly and often.
Doesn’t work as well in cold weather.
You should not eat or drink for 15 minutes before using or during use.
May be visible to people around you when using.
Requires a prescription.**Possible Side Effects** (*and what you can do about them*):
Mouth and throat irritation *(very common, but may lessen with continued use).*
Runny nose, cough *(often people get used to these. Talk to your doctor if they continue to bother you).*
Headache *(Consider waiting longer between doses and talk to your doctor).*
Hiccups or stomach discomfort *(try lower dose or wait longer between doses).***Oral Inhaler Precautions** (If any of these apply to you, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider before starting to use inhaler.):
A heart attack in the last two weeks.
A serious heart rhythm problem.
Pain in your heart (angina) that is serious or getting worse.
Asthma and chronic lung disease.
Could be pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Less than 18 years old.More precautions and general information are available about oral inhaler.Free Quitting ResourcesTelephone
1-800-QUIT-NOW
1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
1-800-838-8917 (中文)
1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)
Smartphone Apps/Text
Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
quitSTART appexternal iconWeb
Quit Smoking (En Español)
Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal iconFree Quitting ResourcesWeb
Quit Smoking (En Español)
Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)Smartphone Apps/Text
Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
quitSTART appexternal icon—tips, information, and challenges to help you quitTelephone
1-800-QUIT-NOW
1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon
1-800-838-8917 (中文)
1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)
Free Quitting ResourcesTelephone
1-800-QUIT-NOW
1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
1-800-838-8917 (中文)
1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)Smartphone Apps/Text
Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
quitSTART appexternal iconWeb
Quit Smoking (En Español)
Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon
The quit-smoking medicines talked about on this website are approved by the FDA for adults to use to quit cigarettes. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or younger than 18, you should not use these medicines without talking to your doctor. If you use tobacco products other than cigarettes (like cigars, chew, snuff, hookah, or e-cigarettes), talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider or call the quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) to get help with quitting. All the ways to use medicines presented here are reviewed in *Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General*(*Chapter 6)* [PDF-1.8 MB]. Some of the ways have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA.
Top of Page
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  September 12, 2023						Source: 	Smokefree.gov, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate home*Tips From Former Smokers* ®
About the Campaignplus icon
Frequently Asked Questions
*Tips* Impact and Resultsplus icon
Publications and Evaluation Results
Burden of Cigarette Use in the U.S.
How to Quit Smokingplus icon
5 Ways Quitlines Helpplus icon
Top 10 Qs about Quitlines
National Texting Portal
quitSTART App
7 Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Tips For Quitting
Learn About Quit Smoking Medicinesplus icon
Three Reasons to Use Medicines When You Quitplus icon
They make quitting less painful
Quit smoking medicines are much safer than smoking
They help you get through the toughest times
How Quit Smoking Medicines Work
Quit Smoking Medicinesplus icon
Nicotine Patch
Nicotine Lozenge
Nicotine Gum
Nicotine Oral Inhaler
Nicotine Nasal Spray
Combining Medicines
Varenicline
Bupropion SR
Getting Coaching with Medicine
Quitting without Medicine
Five New Ways to Quit with Medicines
Six Quick Tipsplus icon
Medicine Tips Just for You
Why Quitting Smoking Is Hard
Quitting Storiesplus icon
Betty’s Story
Daniel’s Story
Select-Lot Varenicline Recall
Real Stories
Diseases/Conditions Featured in the Campaignplus icon
Asthma
Buerger’s Disease
Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Diabetes
Dual Use of Tobacco Products
Gum (Periodontal) Disease
Smoking and Heart Disease, Stroke and Peripheral Artery Disease
HIV
Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety
Pregnancy
Vision Loss and Blindness
For Specific Groupsplus icon
All Groups (General Public)
People With Disabilities
African American People
American Indian and Alaska Native People
Asian American People
Caregivers
Hispanic and Latino People
People Living with HIV
LGBTQ+ People
Military Service Members and Veterans
People With Mental Health Conditions
Pregnant or Planning to Have a Baby
Partnersplus icon
Faith-Based Organizations
Organizations Serving Military Members and Veteransplus icon
Media Outreach Toolkit
Organizations Serving Public Housing Residents
Campaign Resourcesplus icon
Social Media Content
Videos
Feature
Images and Photos
Print Ads
Motivational Cards
Newsroomplus icon
Matte Articlesplus icon
*Tips* Campaign for the General Public
*Tips* Campaign for African American Communities
*Tips* Campaign for American Indian / Alaska Native Communities
*Tips* Campaign for Asian American Communities
*Tips* Campaign for Faith Communities
*Tips* Campaign for Hispanic/Latino Communities
*Tips* Campaign for LGBTQ+ Community
*Tips* Campaign for People With Mental Health Conditions
*Tips* Campaign for Military Members/Veterans To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address                        
What's this                                     
Submit
 Smoking & Tobacco Use
Smokefree.govexternal icon
National Cancer Instituteexternal icon


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue