Nicorette Gum

What Nicorette Gum is and what it is used for

NICORETTE® gum is a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). It is used to relieve and/or prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce the cravings you get when you try to stop smoking, or when cutting down the number of cigarettes you smoke. NICORETTE® gum can also be used when you are pregnant or breast-feeding to help you stop smoking, as the risks to your baby are far less than if you continue to smoke. For more information, see ’If you are pregnant or breast-feeding’ section. Ideally you should always aim to stop smoking. You can use NICORETTE® gum to achieve this by using it to completely replace all your cigarettes. However NICORETTE® gum can also be used in other ways, n if you feel unable to stop smoking completely, or wish to replace certain cigarettes and therefore it can help you to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke, n at those times when you can’t or do not want to smoke. For example,
•Where you don’t want to smoke and avoid harm to others e.g children or family.
•Smoke free areas e.g Pub, work, public transport e.g aeroplanes. It may also help increase your motivation to quit. When making a quit attempt a behavioural support programme will increase your chances of success. If you smoke 20 or fewer cigarettes a day, the 2 mg nicotine gum will help relieve your cravings. If you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, the 4 mg nicotine gum may be more appropriate.

How to take Nicorette Gum

i When to use nicorette® gum The table below contains the dosage information for NICORETTE® gum. This shows the number of gums you should be using, when and how you should take them. Please read this information carefully and then go to the “How to stop smoking:” section, which will help you decide which method to use to give up smoking. n Use the “How to chew NICORETTE® gum
•the NICORETTE® chewing technique” instructions which follow. The method of chewing is NOT the same as that for ordinary chewing gum. This way of chewing ensures that the nicotine is correctly released from the gum. n The number of NICORETTE® gums you use each day will depend on how many cigarettes you smoked and how strong they are. n The 2 mg gums should be used by people who smoke 20 or fewer cigarettes each day or by heavier smokers when they are cutting down the number and strength of the NICORETTE® gums they are using. n The 4 mg gums should be used by people who smoke more than 20 cigarettes each day. i Children aged under 12 years Do not give this product to children under 12 years. i Adults and Children 12 years and over Number of Dose of Gums cigarettes you smoke per day 20 cigarettes One 2 mg gum as or fewer required to relieve cravings. More than One 4 mg gum as 20 cigarettes required to relieve cravings. n Use only one piece of gum at a time. n Do not use more than 15 gums per day. n The frequency with which you use the gums will depend on how many cigarettes you smoked and how strong they were. i How to chew nicorette® gum – the nicorette® chewing technique The method of chewing NICORETTE® gum is not the same as for ordinary chewing gum. NICORETTE® gum is chewed to release nicotine then rested so that nicotine can be taken in through the lining of the mouth. If NICORETTE® gum is chewed continuously, the nicotine is released too quickly and is swallowed. This may irritate your throat, upset your stomach or give you hiccups. If you have false teeth you may have difficulty chewing the gum as NICORETTE® gum could stick to them and on rare occasions, damage dentures. If you experience a problem, other types of nicotine replacement therapy such as a skin patch, inhalator or microtab may be more suitable for you. i The nicorette® chewing technique 1 Chew slowly until taste becomes strong. 2 Rest between gum and cheek. 3 Chew again when the taste has faded. n Keep chewing like this for about half an hour. After this time the gum will have lost its strength and you should dispose of it carefully. i How to stop smoking: If you are able to stop smoking you should use NICORETTE® gum, when needed, in place of cigarettes. As soon as you can (this could be after a number of weeks or months) you should reduce the number of gums you use until you have stopped using them completely. If you are unable to stop smoking, or do not feel ready to quit at this time, you should replace as many cigarettes as possible with NICORETTE® gum. There are toxins in cigarettes that can cause harm to your body. NICORETTE® gum provides a safer alternative to smoking, for both you and those around you. Reducing the number of cigarettes may also help you to become more motivated to stop smoking. As soon as you are ready you should aim to stop smoking completely. You can also use NICORETTE® gum on those occasions when you can’t or don’t want to smoke e.g. Social situations such as a party, in the pub or when at work. 651532 turn over ➤ When making a quit attempt behavioural therapy, advice and support will normally improve the success rate. If you have quit smoking and want to stop using nicorette® gum but are finding this difficult you should contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice. ! If you have used too many gums If you have used more than the recommended dosage you may experience nausea (feeling sick), salivation, pain in your abdomen, diarrhoea, sweating, headache, dizziness, hearing disturbance or weakness. n If you do get any of these effects contact a doctor or your nearest hospital Accident and Emergency department immediately. Take this leaflet and the pack with you. ! If a child has used or swallowed the gums n Contact a doctor or your nearest hospital Accident and Emergency department immediately if a child under 12 years uses, chews or swallows this medicine. Take this leaflet and the pack with you. Nicorette Gum ingestion by a child may result in severe poisoning

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, NICORETTE® gum can have side-effects. As many of the effects are due to nicotine, they can also occur when nicotine is obtained by smoking. Effects related to stopping smoking (nicotine withdrawal) You may experience unwanted effects because by stopping smoking you have reduced the amount of nicotine you are taking. You may also experience these effects if you under use NICORETTE® gum before you are ready to reduce your nicotine intake. ! These effects include: n irritability or aggression n feeling low n anxiety n restlessness n poor concentration n increased appetite or weight gain n urges to smoke (craving) n night time awakening or sleep disturbance n lowering of heart rate Effects of too much nicotine You may also get these effects if you are not used to inhaling tobacco smoke. ! These effects include: n feeling faint n feeling sick (nausea) n headache n hiccuping (due to excessive swallowing of nicotine) Side-effects of nicorette® gum NICORETTE® gum can sometimes cause a slight irritation of the throat at the start of the treatment. It may also cause increased salivation. Those who suffer from indigestion may suffer from heartburn or indigestion and may benefit from slower chewing and use of the 2 mg gum. The gum may occasionally stick to dentures and in rare cases damage them. If you notice any of the following; fast heart rate/beat, abnormal beating of the heart, chest palpitations, shortness of breath or allergic reactions (swelling of the face, mouth, lips, throat and tongue, itching of the skin, swelling of the skin, ulceration and inflammation of the lining of the mouth, difficulty in breathing and dizziness) stop taking NICORETTE® gum and contact a doctor immediately.

Very common side-effects: (may affect more than 1 in 10 people): n headache n cough n throat irritation n (feeling sick) nausea n hiccups n sore mouth or throat

Common side-effects: (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): n allergic reactions (hypersensitivity) n dizziness n taste disturbance or loss of taste n tingling or numbness of the hands and feet n stomach pain or discomfort n diarrhoea n dry mouth n excessive gas or wind n increased salivation n sore and inflamed mouth n sickness (vomiting) n indigestion n burning sensation in the mouth n tiredness (fatigue)

Uncommon side-effects: (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): n abnormal dream n sudden reddening of the face and/or neck n high blood pressure n sudden constriction of the small airways of the lung that can cause wheezing and shortness of breath n loss or damage to voice n blocked nose, sneezing n throat tightness n burping (belching) n swollen, red, sore tongue n mouth ulcers or blisters n numbness or tingling of the mouth n unusual weakness n chest discomfort and pain n hives (urticaria) n excessive sweating n itching n rash n jaw-muscle ache n general feeling of discomfort or being unwell or out of sorts (malaise)

Rare side-effects: (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people): n difficulty in swallowing n decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the mouth n feeling of wanting to be sick (vomit) Other side-effects can include: n blurred vision, watery eyes n dry throat, lip pain n stomach discomfort n redness of the skin n muscle tightness ➤When you stop smoking you may also develop mouth ulcers. The reason why this happens is unknown. ➤If you get any side-effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side-effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side-effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard By reporting side-effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine

How to Store Nicorette Gum

n Keep NICORETTE® gum out of the sight and reach of children and animals. Nicorette Gum in high doses can be very dangerous and sometimes fatal if taken by small children. n Do not store NICORETTE® gum above 25°C. n Do not use the gum after the ‘Use before’ date on the box or blister strip. n Dispose of NICORETTE® gum sensibly. n Medicines should not be disposed of via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.