Nicotrol Gum
Classification
General Sale Medicine
Dosage
Which strength of Nicotrol Gum should I use?
Nicotrol Gum is available in 2mg and 4mg strengths. Usually, the
4mg strength is recommended if you smoke 20 cigarettes or more
in a day or are a smoker who has not been able to quite smoking
using the 2mg strength. Otherwise you should use the 2mg strength.
How much Nicotrol Gum should I use?
Usually, it is recommended that a piece of Nicotrol should be
used when the urge to smoke is felt. About 8-12 pieces per day,
of either the 2mg or 4mg strength, will be adequate. No more than
24 pieces should be used daily.
Purpose/Use
How Nicotrol Gum Works
Smokers have both a physical reliance on nicotine (i.e. the body
becomes dependent on nicotine) and a psychological reliance on
the smoking habit.
It is your body's dependence on nicotine, which causes with-drawal
symptoms when you suddenly stop smoking. Nicotine is an addictive
substance. Symptoms may include irritability, restlessness, depression,
weight gain, and craving for cigarettes.
Nicotrol Gum is intended to ease such withdrawal symptoms by providing
your body with nicotine. This leaves your mind free to concentrate
on overcoming your psychological desire to smoke.
What is the Proper chewing method?
Do not chew Nicotrol Gum when eating or drinking.
This causes excessive swallowing of nicotine, reducing the effectiveness
of Nicotrol. Do not drink acidic beverages, such as coffee or
soft drinks, for 15 minutes before chewing as they can interfere
with the absorption of nicotine.
To get the full effect from Nicotrol Gum these steps should be
followed carefully:
1. Place one piece of Nicotrol in your mouth and chew it slowly
until you feel a slight tingling sensation.
2. When you feel the tingling (usually after about 10 chews),
place the piece of gum under your tongue or between your cheek
and gums until the tingling has gone. This will take about one
minute.
3. When the tingling has gone, continue to chew the gum slowly
until the tingling returns. Then again place the gum under your
tongue or between your cheek and gums.
4. Chew each piece of Nicotrol in this way until you no longer
experience the tingling sensation. Each piece of Nicotrol will
usually last about 30 minutes.
5. Dispose of the chewed pieces of gum neatly, e.g. return to
the bubble pack.
Why is proper chewing so important?
Nicotrol Gum releases nicotine into your saliva. This nicotine
is absorbed through the lining of your mouth and enters your bloodstream.
Any nicotine that is swallowed in saliva is broken down in your
stomach. It is therefore wasted.
So it is important to chew Nicotrol Gum slowly so that the nicotine
is released a little at a time and absorbed through the lining
of the mouth.
Chewing too quickly may at first irritate the throat or cause
hiccups or make you feel sick. So remember that if the taste is
too strong you are chewing too fast!
How long should I continue to use Nicotrol Gum To
quit smoking
It is important that you use Nicotrol Gum for long enough to help
overcome your dependence on cigarettes. Normally this period will
be at least 3 months. Then you can start to slowly wean yourself
from using the gum. When you are only using 1 to 2 chewing gums
each day, you can stop the treatment.
Temporary abstinence
Nicotrol chewing gum should be used during smoke-free periods,
for example in smoke free areas or in situations when you wish
to avoid smoking.
Smoking reduction:
Use Nicotrol Gum between smoking episodes to prolong smoke-free
intervals and with the intention to reduce your smoking as much
as possible. If after 6 weeks you have not reduced the number
of cigarettes smoked each day, then you should seek professional
advice.
Regular use of the gum after 12 months is not recommended. Some
ex-smokers may need longer treatment to avoid returning to smoking.
Adverse effects
Nicotine like all other medicines may cause unwanted side effects
in some people.
Seek professional advice from your doctor or pharmacist as soon
as possible if you do not feel well while you are using Nicotrol
Gum. Most of the undesirable effects reported by users of Nicotrol
occur during the first weeks after beginning treatment and are most
likely due to chewing incorrectly or to the effects of nicotine.
Some are minor and temporary but others may need medical attention.
You may notice the following:
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Hiccups
- Sore mouth or throat
- Jaw-muscle ache
- Redness of the skin
- Hives
- Mouth ulcers.
Some effects, such as dizziness, headache and sleeplessness may
be withdrawal symptoms due to low nicotine levels.
If any of these effects do not go away, or you have any
other undesirable effects during use, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in Nicotrol gum is nicotine-resin complex.
Each piece contains 2mg per piece.
Other ingredients are chewing gum base, xylitol, peppermint oil,
menthol, sodium carbonate anhydrous, magnesium oxide light, and
sodium hydrogen carbonate.
Precautions
When you Must not use Nicotrol Gum
Do not use Nicotrol Gum If:
- You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
- You are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed
- You have had a recent heart attack or stroke
- You have heart disease such as palpitations (fast
or irregular heart beats) or uncontrolled angina (chest pain)
- You are a non-smoker
- You are under 18 Years old
- You are allergic to nicotine or sensitive to any components
of the chewing gum.
You should not use Nicotrol Gum if the expiry date printed on the
carton has passed or the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not give Nicotrol Gum to anyone else to use as it is recommended
that they seek professional advice prior to starting treatment.
Before you start to use Nicotrol Gum
If you have had any of the following, you should ask for your doctor
or pharmacist's advice before using Nicotrol Gum.
These medical conditions may need consideration by or discussion
with your doctor or pharmacist. You and your doctor or pharmacist
can then wiegh up the risk of using Nicotrol Gum against the benefits
you will get if you stop smoking.
The medical conditions include:
- Angina (chest pain) or any other problem with your heart or
blood vessels such as pain in one or more legs when you walk
- High Blood Pressure
- Previous Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Stomach ulcer or pain
- Hyperthyroidism (a disorder of the thryroid gland)
- Phaeochromocytoma (a tumour of the adrenal gland)
- Diabetes
If you have dentures, dental caps or partial bridges
Nicotrol Gum may stick to your dentures, dental caps or partial
bridges and therefore may cause damage to your dental work. It is
important that your dental work is kept clean. You should stop chewing
Nicotrol Gum if it is sticking to your dental work and discuss further
use of Nicotrol Gum with your doctor and dentist.
Taking Other medicines
If you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that
you buy without a prescription, in a pharmacy, supermarket or health
food shop, the way these medicines work may be affected once you
stop smoking.
These medicines may include:
- Theophylline (asthma medication)
- Insulin
- Imipramine (antidepressant)
- Pentazocine (pain medication).
If you use too much (overdose) or in accidental poisoning
Overdose of nicotine can occur if nicotine is used excessively,
either from chewing too many pieces of Nicotrol Gum at the same
time or rapidly one after the other, and/or smoking.
Symptoms of overdose or poisoning include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Salivating
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal Pain
- Cold sweats
- Weakness
- Disturbed hearing
- Headache
- Breathing difficulties
- Weak, rapid or irregular pulse
- Loss of consciousness.
Manufactured by:
Pharmacia AB, Sweden
Distributed by:
Pharmacia
14 Normanby Road
Mt Eden
Auckland
Click to buy Nicotrol Gum now!
