Adult Dosing
Smoking cessation
Lozenge
- light smokers: <25 cigarettes/day
- 2 mg PO q1-2 hrs x6 wks, then q2-4 hrs x3 wks, then q4-8 hrs x3 wks
- Max: 5 lozenges/6 hrs
Note: Stop usage of cigarette on onset of therapy; use >8 lozenges/day during initial 6 wks
- Heavy smokers:
25 cigarettes/day - 4 mg PO q1-2 hrs x6 wks, then q2-4 hrs x3 wks, then q4-8 hrs x3 wks
- Max: 5 lozenges/6 hrs
Note: Stop usage of cigarette on onset of therapy; use >8 lozenges/day during initial 6 wks
Chew gum
- Light smokers: <25 cigarettes/day
- 2 mg PO q1-2 hrs x6 wks, then q2-4 hrs x3 wks, then q4-8 hrs x3 wks
- Max: 24 pieces/day
Note: Stop usage of cigarette on onset of therapy; use >8 lozenges/day during initial 6 wks
- heavy smokers: 25 cigarettes/day
- 4 mg PO q1-2 hrs x6 wks, then q2-4 hrs x3 wks, then q4-8 hrs x3 wks
- Max: 24 pieces/day
Note: Stop usage of cigarette on onset of therapy; use >8 lozenges/day during initial 6 wks
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established
[Outline]
- Advise patients to consult their health care provider if they are pregnant or are considering breast feeding
- Advise patients to stop smoking without using any nicotine replacement medicine
- Instruct patients to avoid usage of this drug if they continue to smoke, chew tobacco, use snuff, or use a nicotine patch or other nicotine containing products
- Use of nicotine is associated with increased heart rate, high blood pressure
- Instruct patients to inform their clinician about any history of heart disease, recent heart attack, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stomach ulcer or diabetes and also if they are on a sodium-restricted diet
- Instruct patients to consult their clinician or pharmacist before using this drug if they are using a non-nicotine stop smoking drug, undergoing therapy for depression or asthma; prescription dose may need to be adjusted
- Instruct patients to consult their clinician on occurrence of mouth, teeth or jaw problems/on experiencing irregular heartbeat or palpitations/persistent indigestion or severe sore throat/on development of symptoms of nicotine overdose such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, weakness and rapid heartbeat
- On overdose, advise patients to seek medical help or contact a poison control center right away
- Instruct patients to keep this drug away from reach of children and pets
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- Cardiovascular disease
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Active peptic ulcer disease
- Pregnancy
- Usage of cigarette continues
- Asthma or reactive airway disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pheochromocytoma
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Depending on the vigor of chewing and number of pieces chewed daily, maternal nicotine plasma concentrations after using nicotine gum are variable. Prefer an alternate smoking cessation product during nursing. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 7 June 2011). According to manufacturer's data this drug should be used only after consultation with health care provider.
US Trade Name(s)
- Commit
- Nicorette
- Nicorette mini
- Nicorette (Mint)
- Thrive
US Availability
nicotine (generic)
- OTC CHEW GUM: 2, 4 mg
- OTC LOZENGE: 2, 4 mg
Commit, Nicorette, Nicorette mini
Nicorette, Nicorette (Mint), Thrive
Canadian Trade Name(s)
Canadian Availability
UK Trade Name(s)
- Boots nicassist 1 mg compressed lozenges
- Nicotinell mint
- Nicorette microtab/Boots nicassist 2 mg microtab
- Nicorette microtab lemon
- Nicorette freshfruit
- Boots nicassist fruit fresh
- Nicorette icy white
- Boots nicassist ice mint
- Nicorette Freshmint/Nicassist minty fresh
- Nicorette
- Nicorette mint
- Boots nicassist mint
- Nicotinell classic
- Nicotinell fruit
- Nicotinell liquorice
- Niquitin
- Niquitin mint
- Niquitin pre-quit mint
- Niquitin minis cherry flavour
- Niquitin minis mint
- Nicorette freshmint
UK Availability
Boots nicassist 1 mg compressed lozenges, Nicotinell mint
Nicorette microtab/Boots nicAssist 2 mg microtab, Nicorette microtab lemon
Nicorette freshfruit, Boots nicassist fruit fresh, Nicorette icy white, Boots nicassist ice mint, Nicorette Freshmint/Nicassist minty fresh, Nicorette, Nicorette mint, Boots nicassist mint, Nicotinell classic, Nicotinell fruit, Nicotinell liquorice, Nicotinell mint
Niquitin
- LOZENGE: 2, 4 mg
- CHEW GUM: 2 mg
Niquitin mint
Niquitin pre-quit mint
Niquitin minis cherry flavour,
Niquitin Minis Mint
Nicorette Freshmint
Australian Trade Name(s)
- Chemists' own nicotine (Mint flavoured gum)
- Chemists' own nicotine (Fruit flavoured gum)
- Nicabate mini
- Nicabate soft gum
- Nicotinell classic
- Nicotinell fruit
- Nicotinell liquorice
- Nicotinell mint
- Quitx (Classic sugar free)
- Quitx (Mint sugar free)
- Quitx coated classic flavour
- Quitx coated freshmint flavour
- Nicorette classic
- Nicorette mint
- Nicorette Freshmint
- Nicorette Citrus
- Nicorette freshfruit
- Nicorette microtab classic
- Nicorette microtab lemon
Australian Availability
Chemists' own nicotine (Mint flavoured gum), Chemists' own nicotine (Fruit flavoured gum)
Nicabate Mini
Nicabate soft gum, Nicotinell classic, Nicotinell fruit, Nicotinell liquorice, Nicotinell mint, Quitx (Classic sugar free), Quitx (Mint sugar free), Quitx coated classic flavour, Quitx coated freshmint flavour, Nicorette classic, Nicorette mint, Nicorette Freshmint, Nicorette Citrus, Nicorette freshfruit
Nicorette microtab classic, Nicorette microtab lemon
[Outline]
