Nicotine gum is a type of chewing gum that delivers nicotine to
the body. It is used as an aid in smoking cessation and in
quitting smokeless tobacco. The nicotine is delivered to the
bloodstream via absorption by the tissues of the mouth.
It is currently available over-the-counter in Europe, the US and
elsewhere. The pieces are usually available in individual foil
packages and come in various flavors including orange, and mint.
Each piece typically contains 2 or 4 mg of nicotine, roughly the
nicotine content of 1 or 2 cigarettes, with the appropriate
dosage depending on the smoking habits of the user. Popular
brands include Nicoderm/Nicorette and Nicotinell.
Alternative nicotine replacement products include the nicotine
patch, nicotine pastilles/lozenges and the nicotine inhaler.
Usage
The gum is first chewed until it is soft and a tingly sensation
and/or peppery taste is noticed, after which it is pressed
between the cheek and gums. When the tingly sensation stops, the
gum is chewed again, and then pinched between the cheek and gums
in a different place in the mouth. This is continued until the
gum is depleted of nicotine (about 30 minutes).
Availability
Various regimes exist worldwide as to the accessibility of these
medications. Originally (in the early 1990s) they were sold only
by prescription.
In the EU and the USA, they are currently available at
pharmacies over-the-counter subject to the same restrictions on
underage purchases as tobacco. Usually the purchaser is directed
to the pharmacist but in other cases the display of the nicotine
therapy products is adjacent to the cigarette display. In some
locations, nicotine gum can be simply purchased off-the-shelf.
At locations such as large retailers, where self-checkout lines
exist, the product can be purchased without human contact, thus
granting the possibility of abuse by children or recreational
users.
In Hong Kong, the large chain pharmacist shops usually, but not
always, require the purchaser of the stronger therapy (4 mg
dose) to sign a register with passport number or Hong Kong ID.
Criticism
As nicotine is an addictive element in cigarettes, a potential
for addiction to nicotine gum exists. Although studies performed
by drug companies indicate that changing to nicotine gum leads
people to quit both the gum and smoking, for many the use of the
nicotine replacement gum becomes chronic as well.[citation
needed] Despite being much safer than smoking, years of nicotine
gum use will nevertheless still cost the addicted user many
thousands of dollars. The per-dose cost in the EU, USA and Hong
Kong is about 40 (US) cents. This means that the price of
nicotine gum often exceeds that of the cigarettes it is designed
to replace.
Nicotine gum may also drive the user to "dip" tobacco because it
replaces the activity of "lighting up" with a reinforced oral
self-dosage, and when the nicotine gum user runs out of the gum,
they may turn to hazardous forms of "dip" or chewing tobacco.
Gum chewing is also considered uncultured in many countries;
this problem can be addressed by using pastille, although the
pastille is not always as available.
Side effects
Two unpleasant symptoms noticed by new users and by existing
users who make excessive use of nicotine gum are hiccups and a
perceived constriction of the throat muscles.
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Smoking cessation
Statistics
Information for smokers trying to quit
1. Modalities
2. Alternative techniques
Information for healthcare professionals
1. Screening
Nicotine replacement therapy
1. Nicotine patch
2. Inhaler
3. Nasal spray
4. Gum |
