Cytisine quit-smoking guide
How to follow the 25-day taper exactly, stop smoking by day 5, and distinguish medicine effects from nicotine withdrawal.
Come usare
- 01
Passo 1
Follow the supplied 1.5 mg pack in order
Cytisine (cytisinicline) uses a tightly scheduled 25-day taper. Take tablets with water at the intervals printed on the pack. Authorised products can differ between countries, so your supplied leaflet takes priority.
- 02
Passo 2
Stop smoking no later than day 5
Choose the quit date before or by day 5 and do not continue smoking or using nicotine products during treatment unless a clinician has explicitly advised a plan. Continued nicotine can worsen adverse effects.
Schema posologico
- 01
Passo 1
Days 1–3: one tablet every 2 hours
Take up to 6 tablets per day while reducing smoking and preparing to stop.
- 02
Passo 2
Days 4–12: one every 2.5 hours
Take up to 5 tablets per day and stop smoking no later than day 5.
- 03
Passo 3
Days 13–20: continue the taper
Days 13–16 use one tablet every 3 hours, up to 4 daily; days 17–20 use one every 5 hours, up to 3 daily.
- 04
Passo 4
Days 21–25: one or two daily
Complete the final taper exactly as labelled. If the attempt is unsuccessful, stop the medicine and discuss when another attempt is appropriate rather than restarting immediately.
Effetti collaterali
Digestive and sleep effects
Nausea, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort, constipation or diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, sleep disturbance, vivid dreams, and appetite or weight changes can occur.
Heart rate, blood pressure, and withdrawal
A faster heartbeat or blood-pressure changes can occur. Irritability, anxiety, low mood, poor concentration, and craving may also reflect nicotine withdrawal, so review the whole pattern.
04 · Quando contattare il medico
Contatta il medico se
- Chest pain, fainting, stroke symptoms, a sustained abnormal heartbeat, or a severe allergic reaction — seek urgent care
- Severe mood change, thoughts of self-harm, or symptoms that make continued treatment unsafe
- You cannot stop smoking by day 5, used nicotine throughout treatment, missed several timed doses, or want to restart a course
Conservazione
Keep in the original package, away from moisture and direct heat, and out of children's reach. Follow the temperature limit on your pack and do not use it after the expiry date.
Cosa aspettarsi
Cytisine partly stimulates nicotine receptors to reduce craving while nicotine use stops. The structured 25-day course and behavioural support can improve the chance of quitting, but results vary. Follow the exact pack, use a firm quit date, and review an unsuccessful attempt before repeating treatment.