Nicorette Gum Dosing and Administration

How to use Nicorette Gum

Nicorette Gum must be chewed a certain way to work right. When chewed like ordinary gum, Nicorette Gum won’t work well and can cause side effects such as hiccups, heartburn, or other stomach problems. An overdose can occur if more than one piece of Nicorette Gum are chewed at the same time, or if the patient chews many pieces one after another.

Patients should not eat or drink for 15 minutes before using Nicorette Gum, or while chewing a piece. The effectiveness of Nicorette Gum may be reduced by some foods and drinks.

Instructions for use. A patient should:

1. Begin using Nicorette Gum on their quit day
2. Follow the dosing schedule above
3. Chew each piece very slowly several times
4. Stop chewing when there is a peppery taste or slight tingling in their mouth (~15 chews)
5. ‘Park’ the gum between the cheek and gum
6. Start to chew slowly again when the peppery taste or tingle is almost gone (~1 minute). Stop when the peppery taste/tingle returns.
7. Park the gum again in a different place of the mouth
8. Repeat this process (chew, chew, park) until most of the nicotine is gone from the Nicorette Gum (usually about 30 minutes; the taste/tingle won’t return)
9. Wrap the used Nicorette Gum piece in paper and discard.

If a patient is experiencing strong or frequent cravings, they may use a second piece within the hour