Nicotinell Chewing Gum is available in the following types -

• Nicotinell Chewing Gum 2mg Fruit
• Nicotinell Chewing Gum 2mg Mint 
• Nicotinell Chewing Gum 2mg Icemint
• Nicotinell Chewing Gum 4mg Fruit
• Nicotinell Chewing Gum 4mg Mint 
• Nicotinell Chewing Gum 4mg Icemit

Nicotinell Gum is a type of nicotine replacement therapy designed to help you stop smoking. It contains a nicotine resin in a chewing gum formulation. When the gum is chewed, nicotine is released slowly and absorbed through the lining of the mouth.

This nicotine replacement alleviates some of the unpleasant withdrawal effects that frequently occur when giving up smoking such as feeling ill or irritable.

Nicotinell Gum can also reduce your desire to smoke by providing some of the nicotine previously inhaled from cigarettes and therefore helps your willpower to resist cigarettes.

• Nicotinell 2mg medicated chewing gum is best suited to those who who smoke less than 20 cigarettes per day
• Nicotinell 4mg medicated chewing gum is for smokers smoking more than 30 cigarettes per day. It can also be used by smokers smoking between 20 and 30 cigarettes per day depending on your preference, and by those who have previously failed to stop smoking with the aid of nicotine replacement therapy

Nicotinell Gum is for adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.

How to use Nicotinell Gum:

You should not use Nicotinell gum if:

• You are a non-smoker or occasional smoker
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients
• You are under 12 years of age, except on the advice of a doctor

Stop smoking completely when you start using Nicotinell gum. Coffee, juices and fizzy drinks may reduce the absorption of nicotine and should not be taken for 15 minutes before chewing the gum.

• Chew 1 piece of gum when you feel the urge to smoke

Nicotinell Gum should not be chewed like ordinary chewing gum. It is important to chew the gum correctly so follow the chewing instructions below and do not swallow the gum.

Nicotinell chewing technique:

1. Chew 1 piece of gum slowly until the taste becomes strong
2. Rest the piece of gum between your gum and cheek
3. Chew again when the taste has faded
4. Repeat the chewing routine for about 30 minutes

Nicotinell 2mg Gum:

• Most people use 8-12 pieces of 2mg gum a day
• Do not use more than 1 piece of gum at a time
• Do not use more than 25 pieces of 2mg gum a day

Nicotinell 4mg Gum:

• Most people use 8-12 pieces of 4mg gum a day
• Do not use more than 1 piece of gum at a time
• Do not use more than 15 pieces of 4mg gum a day

After about 3 months you must gradually cut down the number of pieces of gum you chew each day. You should stop using the gum when the dose has been reduced to 1-2 gums a day. You should not use the gum for more than 6 months.

Some ex-smokers may need longer to avoid returning to smoking. If you are still using the gum after 9 months, you should talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Adolescents aged 12-18 years of age should only use Nicotinell gum for 12 weeks. If longer is required, advice should be sought from a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

If you are a denture wearer and have difficulty chewing the gum, a different form of nicotine replacement therapy such as the patch or lozenge may suit you better.

In the event of an accidental overdose, or if a child has eaten any, contact your doctor or nearest Hospital Casualty Department and show them the packet or leaflet, if possible. Nicotinell Gum is not suitable for children, who may develop signs of nicotine overdose, including headache, sickness, stomach pains and diarrhoea.

Each piece of 2mg Nicotinell Gum contains: 2mg of nicotine in a resin complex (nicotine polacrilin 10mg).

Each piece of 4mg Nicotinell Gum contains: 4mg of nicotine in a resin complex (nicotine polacrilin 20mg).

Other Nicotinell Gum ingredients: gum base, calcium carbonate (E170), sorbitol (E420, 0.2g per piece, a source of 0.04g fructose), sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate (E500), glycerol (E422), levomenthol, butylated hydroxytoluene (E321), saccharin, saccharin sodium (E954), acesulfame potassium (E950), xylitol (E967), mannitol (E421), gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), carnauba wax (E903), talc (E553b) and water.

Sodium content: 11.5mg per piece.

Nicotinell Fruit also contains: fruit flavouring

Nicotinell Mint also contains: peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil

Before using Nicotinell Gum:

You should not use Nicotinell gum if:

• You are a non-smoker or occasional smoker
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients
• You are under 12 years of age, except on the advice of a doctor

There are some circumstances where you should consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before starting to use Nicotinell Gum:

• You have heart disease (including heart attack and disorders of heart rate and/or rhythm) or stroke for which you are in hospital; using nicotine replacement therapy is better than continuing to smoke
• You have serious liver or kidney disease
• You have or have ever had a stomach ulcer
• You have persistent indigestion or severe sore throat or inflammation of the mouth
• You are diabetic (see below)
• You have an overactive thyroid gland
• You have a tumour of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma)
• You are taking any other medicines (see below)
• You are pregnant or breast-feeding (see below)
• You have fructose intolerance
• You are on a low sodium diet

If you have diabetes: you should monitor your blood sugar levels more often than usual when starting to use Nicotinell gum because you may find your nsulin/medication requirements alter.

If you are taking other medicines: The effect of some medicines can be altered when you stop smoking. If you are already taking regular medication you should tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

If you are pregnant: Smoking during pregnancy is associated with risks such as poor growth of the baby before birth, premature birth or stillbirth.

Stopping smoking is the single most effective intervention for improving both your health and that of your baby and the arlier smoking stops the better.

Ideally stopping smoking during pregnancy should be achieved without nicotine replacement therapy. However if you have tried and this is not possible, nicotine replacement therapy may be used to help because the risk to the developing baby is less than that expected from continued smoking.

The decision to use nicotine replacement therapy should be made as early on in the pregnancy as possible with the aim of discontinuing use after 2-3 months.

Products that are taken intermittently may be preferable to nicotine patches. However patches may be preferred if you have nausea or sickness. Patches, if used, should be removed before going to bed at night.

If you are breast-feeding: Tobacco smoke produces breathing and other problems in babies and children. If you need to use nicotine replacement therapy to help you quit, the amount of nicotine that the baby may receive is considerably smaller and less harmful than the second-hand smoke they would otherwise be breathing in.

It is better to use nicotine replacement therapy products that can be taken intermittently (i.e. not patches) and try to breast-feed at a time just before you take the product to ensure that the baby gets the smallest amount of nicotine possible.

In the event of an accidental overdose or if a child has eaten any, contact your doctor or nearest hospital casualty department and show them the packet or leaflet, if possible.

Nicotinell gum is not suitable for children, who may develop signs of nicotine overdose, including headache, sickness, stomach pains and diarrhoea.

After taking Nicotinell Gum: Nicotinell gum may cause side effects in some people. Most of the side effects generally occur during the first 3-4 weeks after you start using the gum.

Serious side effects are rare but can include disturbances in heart rhythm and allergic reactions. In some very rare cases these allergic reactions include swelling inside the mouth or on the face or skin, difficulty in breathing, and low blood pressure.

If any of these effects occur stop using immediately and contact your doctor or nearest hospital casualty department.

Less serious side effects are usually mild and may include palpitations, eerythema (red skin rash), urticaria, dizziness, headache and sleep disturbances. Some of these symptoms may also be withdrawal symptoms directly caused by giving up smoking.

Nicotine from the gum may sometimes cause a slight irritation of the throat and increase salivation when you start using the gum.

Excessive consumption of Nicotinell gum may cause nausea, faintness and headache in those who smoked but did not inhale.

If you find these effects or any other effects occur, consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Dryness of the mouth, hiccups, stomach trouble such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, increased saliva production, irritation of the mouth, and throat and jaw muscle ache may also occur, especially as a result of intense chewing.

If you find any of these effects occur re-check that you are following the Nicotinell chewing technique correctly. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

The gum can stick to and very rarely damage dentures or other dental work.