What is Nicorette Gum?
Nicorette gum is a form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), which is used to temporarily relieve the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and cravings to smoke. Like some other forms of NRT, Nicorette is available in Canada as an over-the-counter medication.
It’s one of many other forms of NRT, such as:
- Patches
- Pouches
- Oral sprays
How does Nicorette Gum work?
Nicorette gum functions by releasing small amounts of nicotine into your mouth to be swallowed with your saliva and absorbed through your esophagus and stomach lining into your bloodstream.
By replacing a portion of the nicotine that your body is missing from not smoking, Nicorette gum in Canada makes it easier to stop smoking.
In some cases, Nicorette nicotine gum may be used for temporary cessation of smoking needs, when you know you won’t be able to smoke for an extended period of time (i.e., flights, medical appointments, etc.).
What is Nicorette Gum used to treat?
How do you take Nicorette Gum?
Nicotine gum is taken orally and chewed like normal gum.
1. Chew the gum slowly until the tastes become strong.
2. When the taste is strong, rest the gum between your jaw and cheek — the nicotine is absorbed my your mouth's lining.
3. After the taste has faded, resume chewing the gum until the taste becomes strong again.
Keep repeating steps 2 and 3 for about 30 minutes.
It can be used several times a day, though excessive use of Nicorette nicotine gum may increase your chances of side effects like mouth soreness, or the chance of taking in too much nicotine; especially if you’re pairing Nicorette gum with another form of NRT.
How long does Nicorette Gum last after you take it?
What are the common side effects of Nicorette Gum?
The most common side effects of using Nicorette nicotine gum include:
- Mouth or throat irritation
- Jaw ache
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Hiccups
- Upset stomach
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Burping
- Increased salivation
- Unusual taste in your mouth
- Gingivitis
- Irritated or inflamed tongue
- Bleeding gums
- Tongue discoloration
- Sores in the mouth
Most people get used to these Nicorette gum side effects over time, so they lessen or disappear completely. If they start to become severe, you should be sure to talk to your practitioner about alternative NRTs you may want to try instead.
Signs of a nicotine overdose could include:
- Nausea
- Drooling
- Severe headache
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Disturbed hearing and/or vision
- Mental confusion
- Severe weakness
- Fainting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
If you start to experience any of these more severe side effects of Nicorette gum, you should spit the gum out and seek immediate medical attention. At very high doses, other symptoms may appear, such as:
- Low blood pressure
- Weak or irregular pulse
- Breathing difficulty
- Extreme exhaustion
- Circulatory collapse
- Convulsions
Thankfully, allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) are very rarely occurring with Nicorette nicotine gum.
Who shouldn't take Nicorette Gum?
People under the age of 18, as well as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t use Nicorette nicotine gum.
You should talk to your practitioner before requesting Felix for Nicorette gum in Canada, if you have/had:
- Heart problems
- Thyroid problems
- Stomach problems
- Stomach ulcer
- Esophagitis
- Throat, mouth, or dental problems
- Angina
- Coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure
- Epilepsy
- Seizures
- Irregular heartbeat
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
- Tumour of the adrenal gland
- Circulatory disorders of the brain
They may be able to suggest other NRTs that would work for you in Canada, rather than Nicorette nicotine gum.
Further reading