Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gum is an over-the-counter smoking cessation aid used to control nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with quitting smoking.

• Nicotine gum is available under the following different brand names: Nicorette Gum.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Gum

• 2 mg
• 4 mg

Smoking Cessation

• Weeks 1-6: 1 piece of gum every 1-2 hours; chew at least 9 pieces per day during the first 6 weeks to increase chances of quitting
• Weeks 7-9: 1 piece of gum every 2-4 hours
• Weeks 10-12: 1 piece of gum every 4-8 hours
• Less than 25 cigarettes/day: Initiate with 2 mg
• 25 cigarettes or more/day: Initiate with 4 mg
• For strong/frequent cravings, may use the second piece within 1 hour

Common side effects of Nicotine Gum include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Fast heart rate
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Indigestion / heartburn
• Hiccups
• Increased salivation
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Gas
• Sore throat
• Oral irritation
• Dental
• Pain
• May loosen inlays/fillings
• Stick to dentures
• Damage to oral mucosa and teeth
• Temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and pain with excessive chewing
• Withdrawal symptoms

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects may occur. Call your doctor for information and medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication for your condition, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions or side effects and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of this medicine or any medicine before getting further information from your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Nicotine gum has no known severe interactions with other drugs.
• Nicotine gum has no known serious interactions with other drugs.
• Nicotine gum has no known moderate interactions with other drugs.
• Nicotine gum has no known mild interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains nicotine gum. Do not take Nicorette Gum if you are allergic to nicotine gum or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Active temporomandibular joint disease
• Nonsmokers
• Patients smoking during the postmyocardial infarction period
• Patients with life-threatening arrhythmias or worsening angina pectoris

Effects of Drug Abuse

Translation content

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Nicotine Gum?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Nicotine Gum?"

Cautions

• Coronary artery disease (e.g., history of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris).
• Serious cardiac arrhythmias.
• Hypertension.
• Vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal angina, Raynaud's phenomena).
• Extensively metabolized in the liver; hepatic impairment may decrease clearance.
• Poisoning/fatality may occur in children if inhaled, ingested, or buccally absorbed.
• Continuously chewing gum increases nicotine release leading to increased adverse effects (see administration instructions).
• Stop use if oral blistering occurs.
• Use caution in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.
• Stop use and ask a doctor if symptoms of an allergic reaction occur, such as difficulty breathing or rash.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use nicotine gum during pregnancy in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug is available. There is positive evidence of human fetal risk.
• Tobacco smoke is known to cause low birth weight, spontaneous abortion, increased perinatal mortality, decreased placental perfusion; however, nicotine replacement is believed to be safer during pregnancy than smoking.
• Nicotine and its metabolite (cotinine) pass into breast milk up to an hour after maternal smoking. The risk of exposure of infants to secondhand smoke may be more detrimental than nicotine replacement. Nicotine may increase an infant's heart rate.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should seek the advice of a health professional before using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.