PlanetRx - Learn More - Product Advice - Nicotine Gum

Chew on this

Chewing gum is now an ally in kicking the smoking habit. Numerous smokers claim that nicotine gum helps them chew their way to freedom from addiction. It works by helping satisfy your craving for nicotine while you get used to not having a smoke in hand. The FDA adheres to an attitude of caution, saying the gum is fine when used to help a desperate tobacco addict. But if you really aren't committed to quitting, you can chew all the nicotine gum in sight and still be anxious to light up.

It Doesn't Replace Smoking, but It May Help You Quit

Nicotine gum helps alleviate the mental and physical withdrawal symptoms of smoking. To be most effective, nicotine gum should be used in conjunction with behavioral and patient counseling programs.
Nicotine gum does not feel like smoking. It reduces the craving and withdrawal symptoms that come with smoking cessation, but not in the same way that smoking does.
Nicotine gum comes in two dosage forms: 2 and 4 mg. The 4 mg dosage is for people who smoke more than 24 cigarettes per day.

Another Reason to Quit

Tobacco smoke interacts with many substances, creating the following effects:

Analgesics (aspirin, naproxen, ketoprefen, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen) can have impaired function.
Anticoagulants are less effective.
Cardiovascular drugs have lowered function, possibly exaggerating heart conditions.
Concurrent with estrogen use, might increase the chance of embolisms.
H2 blockers (famotidine, nizatidine, and cimetidine) may have decreased effect.
Insulin absorption may lowered.
Theophylline may have a shorter duration of effect.
Psychotropic drugs may have a lessened effect.
Vitamin absorption is inhibited.

Nicotine

The nicotine in nicotine gum is an aid in smoking cessation. Chewing this compound releases nicotine, which is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. When it reaches the brain, it causes stimulation of the central nervous system in a manner very similar to smoked nicotine, but without the other toxins. The blood level of nicotine obtained from the gum depends upon the vigor and duration of the chewing. Temporary satisfaction of nicotine craving through this method may decrease the urge to smoke nicotine-containing tobacco products.

Ingredient		Description
Nicotine Polacrilex
Nicotine Polacrilex	?	Nicotine gum can be an effective smoking cessation aid, but it is not equivalent to smoking. It only helps reduce or eliminate nicotine withdrawal from smoking cessation.

Motivation is Key

You must be truly committed to quitting smoking for the nicotine gum to be of any use. This means immediately stopping smoking as soon as therapy is started.

Facts About the Process

Chewing nicotine gum every one to two hours appears to be more effective than chewing gum as needed.
If you are using the 2 mg nicotine gum, do not chew more than 30 pieces per day.
If you are using the 4 mg nicotine gum, do not chew more than 20 pieces per day.
The 4 mg nicotine gum appears to be more effective at helping people quit smoking than the 2 mg nicotine gum. In fact, the 2 mg nicotine gum did not perform better than a placebo at helping smokers quit.
The 4 mg nicotine gum is designed for people who smoke more than 24 cigarettes per day. Those who smoke less than this amount should use the 2 mg nicotine gum.
It takes about four to six months to complete the treatment. Some smokers may need longer.

Proper Chewing Technique

Put the gum in your mouth and start chewing slowly. If you chew too fast, too much nicotine will be released at once.
When you first notice a tingling sensation, the gum is releasing nicotine.
Stop chewing, and position the gum between your cheek and gums. This is called "parking" the gum. "Parking" allows the nicotine to be absorbed.
Wait until the tingling sensation fades; then start chewing again.
When the tingling returns, "park" the gum in a new part of your mouth.
Repeat the chewing and "parking" procedure until there is no more tingling sensation, or until 30 minutes have passed.

A Few Ways to Taper Your Nicotine Habit

Reduce the number of pieces of gum you chew per day by one or more every four to seven days.
Alternatively, you can chew one piece of gum for more than 30 minutes and reduce the total pieces of gum you chew per day.
For every piece of nicotine gum you reduce, you can replace it with a piece of sugar-free gum.
Replace the 4 mg gum with the 2 mg gum and apply any of the above tapering methods.