Nicotine Lozenge

Nicotine Lozenge is an aid used to help smokers quit smoking. It is available over-the-counter (OTC).

Nicotine Lozenge is available under the following different brand names: Nicorette Lozenge and Nicorette Mini Lozenge.

Lozenge

• 2 mg
• 4 mg

Smoking Cessation

• Weeks 1-6: 1 lozenge every 1-2 hours
• Weeks 7-9: 1 lozenge every 2-4 hours
• Weeks 10-12: 1 lozenge every 4-8 hours
• Do not exceed more than 5 lozenges/6 hours
• Do not exceed more than 20 lozenges/day
• First cigarette smoked more than 30 minutes after awakening: Initiate with 2 mg
• First cigarette smoked within 30 minutes of awakening: Initiate with 4 mg

Safety and efficacy not established for pediatric patients.

Side effects of Nicotine Lozenge include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Fast heart rate
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Weight loss
• Heartburn/indigestion
• Hiccups
• Increased salivation
• Indigestion
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cough

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Nicotine Lozenge has no listed 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 lozenge. Do not take Nicorette Lozenge or Nicorette Mini Lozenge if you are allergic to nicotine lozenge 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
• Smokers in post heart attack (postmyocardial infarction) period
• Life-threatening arrhythmias
• Severe or worsening angina pectoris
• Nonsmokers

Effects of Drug Abuse

No information available.

Short-Term Effects

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

Long-Term Effects

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

Cautions

• Caution in coronary artery disease (e.g., history of myocardial infarction or angina pectoris)
• Serious cardiac arrhythmias
• Hypertension
• Use caution in patients with history of esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, oropharyngeal inflammation
• Use caution in patients with insulin dependent diabetes
• Use caution in patients with history of seizures
• Vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal angina, Raynaud's phenomena)
• Extensively metabolized in liver; hepatic impairment may decrease clearance
• Poisoning/fatality may occur in children if inhaled, ingested, or buccally absorbed
• Do not bite, chew, or swallow lozenge/troche
• Use caution in hepatic impairment, pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism, and hepatic or renal impairment
• Not for use in patients allergic to soya (mint flavor only)

Pregnancy and Lactation

Use nicotine lozenge 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 hour after maternal smoking. The risk of exposure of infants to secondhand smoke may be more detrimental than nicotine replacement. Nicotine may increase infant heart rate.

Pregnant or breastfeeding patients should seek advice of their health professional before using over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.