Introduction
Nicorettes® are classically understood to be chewing gums, which is why this article will also discuss the dosage form as chewing gum in more detail. Other dosage forms are plasters, sprays, lozenges and inhalers.
Active ingredients
The active ingredients in Nicorette® chewing gums are polacriline, nicotine, nicotine polacrine (1:4).
Fields of application
Nicorette® chewing gum is used for nicotine withdrawal symptoms and related complaints.
Contraindications
Nicorette® should not be used if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or if it occurs during the course of treatment. Other contraindications for treatment with Nicorette® are Nicotine gum should be used with caution in patients with one or more of the following limitations:
- Non smokers
- Children
- Recent heart attack
- Known recurring heart pain
- Severe heart rhythm disturbances
- Acute stroke
- Severe cardiovascular diseases
- Insufficiently treated hypertension
- Severe liver disorder
- Severe kidney disorder
- Active stomach ulcers
- Active intestinal ulcers
- Diabetes mellitus
- Adrenal gland tumors
Instructions for use
Adults should consume one nicotine gum (2mg each) per hour, but use no more than 16 gums per day. If the smoker to be treated is highly nicotine-dependent, the stronger nicotine gum of 4mg per piece should be used in this case. If the patient is under 18 years of age, the nicotine chewing gums may only be used in consultation with the treating physician, as no study results are available to date.
The nicotine chewing gum is chewed for about 30 minutes with pauses, so that all the nicotine is released from the gum mass. It is important to chew the nicotine gum slowly, as nicotine is mainly absorbed through the mucous membrane of the mouth and less through the stomach. Slow chewing can prevent the nicotine contained in chewing gum from being swallowed unnecessarily.
The nicotine in the blood can then eliminate the desire to smoke for a certain period of time. It is often the case that smokers who want to quit smoking need a smaller amount of nicotine gum than they previously needed per day of cigarettes. After an application period of 4-6 weeks, the amount of nicotine gums per day should be gradually reduced and extended to larger intervals.
For highly dependent smokers, the amount of nicotine in the chewing gums should first be reduced from 4mg per piece to 2mg per piece before the intervals are increased. The nicotine chewing gums should be discontinued for the first time after an average daily consumption of only 1-2 pieces has been achieved during the past week. However, as soon as you start smoking again, nicotine-containing chewing gum should be kept handy to prevent a relapse into cigarette smoking. Treatment with Nicorette® for a period longer than 6 months is not recommended, but in some cases this is necessary to prevent a relapse into smoking habits.
