Nicotine Polacrilex (By Mouth)

Nicotine Polacrilex (NIK-o-teen pol-a-KRYE-lex)

Helps you quit smoking. Provides your body with nicotine to replace cigarettes.

Brand Name(s):

Nicorette, Equate Nicotine
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this gum if you have had an allergic reaction to nicotine.

How to Use This Medicine:

Gum

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this gum to use and how often. Do not use more gum or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. This gum comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• If you are using this gum without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label. Choose the package of gum that matches the number of cigarettes you usually smoke in one day.
• Do not chew Nicorette® like you would regular gum. Begin by taking a few bites until you feel tingling or a peppery taste. This means the nicotine is being released.
• As soon as the tingling starts, move the piece of Nicorette® to the side of your mouth, between your gum and your cheek. Leave the gum there until the tingling goes away.
• Slowly start to chew the gum again until the tingling returns. Then move the gum to the side of your mouth again.
• Keep repeating this cycle of slowly chewing, then moving the gum to the side of your mouth. When you chew the gum and the tingling or peppery taste doesn't come back, then you are finished with that piece of gum. This usually takes about 30 minutes.
• When you first start using Nicorette® gum, chew at least the smallest suggested number of pieces each day. This is important to keep cravings and withdrawal symptoms under control.
• If you still feel a craving to smoke even after chewing a piece of gum, you may use a second piece. Use only two pieces, and then wait until your next scheduled time for gum.
• Keep using this gum for the full treatment time. Do not use more than 24 pieces of gum in one day. Do not chew two pieces of gum at one time.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the gum at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. After you have chewed a piece of gum, wrap the used gum in paper and throw it away so that children or pets cannot get to it.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using insulin, asthma medicine (such as theophylline, albuterol, Serevent®), or medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline). Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use regularly. Your doses may need to be changed when you quit smoking.
• Do not smoke cigarettes or use any other kind of nicotine at all during the time you are using Nicorette®. This includes chewing tobacco, nicotine spray, or nicotine patches.
• Do not drink cola, coffee, orange juice, or other acidic drinks.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should only use this medicine if your doctor tells you to. Smoking can seriously harm your child. Try to stop smoking without using medicine. This medicine is believed to be safer than smoking. However, the risks to your child from this medicine are not fully known.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you have heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a stomach ulcer, or diabetes.
• You will probably still want to smoke sometimes. Have a plan for coping with situations where you may be tempted. This gum is only part of a complete program to quit smoking.
• Stop using Nicorette® at the end of week 12. If you still feel the need to smoke after you have finished the Nicorette® program, talk to your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, sweating

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Mild nausea, heartburn, hiccups
• Loose fillings, caps, or other problems with your teeth
• Mouth, tooth, or jaw pain

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.