Dubai, October 17, 2004: Novartis Consumer Health has today announced that Awkaf has endorsed the usage of its nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product, Nicotinell, during Ramadan. Approval has been granted by Awkaf so that the use of Nicotinell patches by smokers who wish to combat their cravings and quit smoking will not break or invalidate their fast. 

"Nicotine is extremely addictive and NRT can help smokers to cope with the symptoms associated with the withdrawal from the drug during fasting hours," commented Dr Ahmad Abdullah, supervisor of quit smoking clinic in the Department of Preventative Medicine in Abu Dhabi.  "The fact that Nicotinell can be used during this period is significant news to some smokers who are considering quitting smoking altogether," he continued.

Nicotinell is a proven smoking cessation product which controls the levels of nicotine into the bloodstream by helping quitters to gradually decrease their intake of Nicotine. A range of Nicotinell products to suit light, moderate and heavy smokers have been developed helping them to give up the habit for good. 

Describing the effectiveness of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), Lalaine Chu Benitez, Brand Manager, Novartis Consumer Health, said: "Irritability, restlessness and insomnia are the main withdrawal symptoms that 80% of smokers face when they give up. NRT patches alleviate this by breaking the cycle of nicotine addiction by delivering a steady low dose of nicotine (lower than a cigarette) to the system. This maintains relatively constant blood levels above the craving threshold, so that the smoker has less likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms."

For people wanting to stop smoking, NRT helps to gradually diminish the physiological dependence on nicotine.  Through a 3-month weaning process from a higher dosage to a lower one, the smoker is freed from further craving.  Managing this dependence, coupled with dealing with the psychological aspect of smoking triggers, such as coffee, tea, after meals, places associated with the habit, etc., makes for successful quitting.

Novartis Consumer Health is about to embark on a mall wide smoking cessation promotion. Featuring a number of activities designed to raise awareness on the alternatives to smoking, the programme kicks off in Deira City Centre from October 14-16, moves to Abu Dhabi mall on October 21-22 and finishes in Sharjah City Centre on October 28-29.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:
About Nicotinell: Nicotinell patches prevent smokers from experiencing the withdrawal symptoms, which can interfere with giving up smoking. The Nicotinell patches break the cycle of nicotine addiction, by delivering a steady low dose of nicotine to the system. This maintains relatively constant blood levels above the craving threshold, so that that smoker has less likelihood of experiencing withdrawal symptoms.  

Nicotinell helps to overcome the physiological dependence upon nicotine and allows the smoker to deal with the smoking habit - i.e. to break physiological dependence. By weaning from a higher dosage to a lower dosage patch over a course of 12 weeks, the physiological dependence on nicotine is diminished gradually, and the smoker will be freed from further craving for nicotine.  Addiction to smoking can be reduced in the same way that it started - gradually.

About Novartis: Novartis is a global leader in life sciences focusing on agribusiness and healthcare and is driven by a high performance workforce of 82,000 people operating in more than 140 countries worldwide. The company was created as a result of a merger by Ciba Geigy and Sandoz in 1996.  

Novartis Consumer Health (NCH) is a division of Novartis and a global leader in its own right in the fields of nutritional and self-medication healthcare. The Dubai office of NCH covers the Arabian Gulf Markets of Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, as well as Yemen. Popular brands include Gerber, Isostar, Ovaltine, Otrivin, Orofar and Voltaren Emulgel.

Issued on behalf of Novartis Consumer Health by Gulf Hill and Knowlton, Dubai. 

For further information please contact
Marianne Jumean or Bina Matthews on
tel: +971 4 3344930;
fax; +971 4 3344923 or
e-mail: Marianne.jumean@hillandknowlton.com or bina.matthews@hillandknowlton.com

© Press Release 2004