Nicotine
This medicine should always be used exactly as described in this patient leaflet or as advised by a doctor or pharmacist.
When a patient stops smoking cigarettes and nicotine is no longer regularly delivered to the body, various withdrawal symptoms from nicotine cessation begin to appear, including irritability, anxiety, mood disturbances, dizziness, and headaches, as well as sleep disturbances. With the help of Nicorette Icy White Gum chewing gum, these can be prevented or weakened by delivering small doses of nicotine to the body in a short time. The nicotine contained in Nicorette Icy White Gum is administered in its pure form. Unlike cigarettes, Nicorette Icy White Gum does not release harmful tar substances or carbon dioxide, which appear during tobacco combustion.
Nicorette Icy White Gum is indicated for the treatment of tobacco dependence by reducing nicotine craving and withdrawal symptoms that occur after quitting smoking.
Before starting to use Nicorette Icy White Gum, you should discuss it with your doctor if you have:
Chewing gum may stick, and in rare cases, cause damage to dental prostheses. Some patients may continue to use Nicorette Icy White Gum for longer than the recommended treatment period, but the potential risk of long-term use is much lower than the risk of nicotine dependence associated with returning to smoking tobacco.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines you plan to take. Quitting smoking may require modification of their dosing. If you are taking imipramine, clomipramine, fluvoxamine (medicines used to treat depression), clozapine, olanzapine (medicines used to treat schizophrenia), theophylline (a medicine used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchial inflammation), tacrine (a medicine used to treat Alzheimer's disease), ropinirole (a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease), flecainide (a medicine used for arrhythmias, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, heart rhythm disorders), pentazocine (a pain reliever), insulin, you should consult your doctor before using Nicorette Icy White Gum.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to have a child, you should consult your doctor before using this medicine. To minimize exposure to the child, the medicine should be used immediately after breastfeeding.
The medicine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Nicorette Icy White Gum contains butylhydroxytoluene (E 321). The medicine may cause irritation of the mucous membranes. The medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per dose, which means the medicine is considered "sodium-free".
Children and adolescents
Without a doctor's recommendation, Nicorette Icy White Gum should not be used in people under 18 years of age. Data on the treatment of people in this age group with Nicorette Icy White Gum are limited.
Adults and the elderly
The initial dose should be determined individually depending on the degree of nicotine dependence. Usually, 8-12 gums are used per day with the appropriate nicotine content. People who smoke with a low degree of dependence (smoking ≤ 20 cigarettes/day) should start treatment with a 2 mg dose. People who smoke with a high degree of dependence should start treatment with a 4 mg dose. Do not use more than 15 gums per day.
Quitting smoking
Nicorette Icy White Gum helps people quit smoking who are determined to quit the habit. The gum should be used for at least 3 months. Then, you should start gradually reducing the gum. Treatment should be completed when the dose is reduced to 1-2 gums per day.
Reducing smoking
Nicorette Icy White Gum helps reduce smoking in people who do not want to or are unable to quit the habit. To prolong the intervals between smoking and maximize the reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked, the gum should be used during periods between smoked cigarettes, when the desire to smoke appears. If after 6 weeks, there is no reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked per day, you should consult a doctor. You should consider trying to quit smoking as soon as possible, but no later than 6 months after starting treatment. If within 9 months of starting treatment, it is not possible to make a serious attempt to quit smoking, you should consult a doctor. Usually, regular use of gum for a period longer than 12 months is not recommended. Some former smokers may require longer treatment to avoid returning to smoking tobacco. Unused gums should be kept in case of sudden nicotine craving. You should use support groups, as they can improve the smoking cessation process and help complete the therapy successfully.
Temporary abstinence
Nicorette Icy White Gum helps smokers temporarily abstain from smoking. The gum should be used during breaks between smoked cigarettes, when the desire to smoke appears, for example, in places where smoking is prohibited or in other situations where you want to avoid smoking.
Using gum in combination with patches
Gums can be used alone or in combination with nicotine patches. Using more than one form of nicotine replacement therapy is beneficial in the case of smokers who have returned to the smoking habit despite previously using monotherapy or who have difficulty controlling the desire to smoke during monotherapy. Therefore, if necessary, Nicorette Invisipatch 15 mg/16 h and Nicorette Icy White Gum 2 mg can be used together. Nicorette Invisipatch 15 mg/16 h should be applied in the morning, after waking up, and removed after 16 hours, before going to bed. It should be used in accordance with the approved dosing for monotherapy. Nicorette Icy White Gum 2 mg should be chewed when a strong desire to smoke appears, not exceeding the maximum daily dose of 15 gums. The gum can be used in this way for a period of 12 weeks, then the use of the gum should be gradually reduced. The maximum duration of gum use is 12 months.
How to chew Nicorette Icy White Gum
The gum should be chewed when you feel the need to smoke. The gum is chewed to release nicotine, and then chewing is stopped to allow nicotine to be absorbed through the mucous membrane of the mouth. Nicotine swallowed with saliva has no beneficial effect and in excess can irritate the throat or stomach, causing, for example, hiccups. Nicorette Icy White Gum should not be chewed like regular gum continuously and energetically, as nicotine is released too intensely. Nicorette Icy White Gum should be chewed slowly, making regular breaks.
Overdose of nicotine, both from nicotine replacement products and (or) as a result of smoking cigarettes, can cause symptoms of overdose. The risk of poisoning as a result of swallowing chewing gum is very low, as absorption of nicotine without chewing is slow and incomplete. Symptoms of nicotine overdose include: nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, excessive sweating, headache, dizziness, hearing disturbances, and significant weakness. After large doses, these symptoms may be accompanied by hypotension, weak and irregular pulse, breathing difficulties, exhaustion, circulatory collapse, and generalized seizures. Doses of nicotine tolerated by adults during treatment can cause symptoms of severe poisoning in small children and can be fatal. The medicine should be stored in a place inaccessible to children. In case of overdose, nicotine administration should be stopped immediately and medical help should be sought. The doctor will provide appropriate symptomatic treatment. In case of swallowing an excessive amount of nicotine, activated charcoal reduces gastrointestinal absorption of nicotine. If too many gums are used or if a gum is chewed or swallowed by a child, you should immediately contact a doctor or go to the nearest hospital, taking the gum packaging and this leaflet with you.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some symptoms may occur in connection with quitting smoking. These include worsening mood, insomnia, irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, concentration problems, nervousness, or impatience. Physical symptoms may also occur, such as decreased heart rate, increased appetite, or weight gain, dizziness, or hyperventilation symptoms, cough, constipation, gum bleeding, aphthous ulcers, or pharyngitis, as well as nicotine craving associated with the desire to smoke. Most reported side effects occur within the first few weeks of starting treatment. Mouth and throat irritation may occur, but most patients get used to it during treatment. Chewing gum may stick, and in rare cases, cause damage to dental prostheses. During the use of Nicorette Icy White Gum, allergic reactions (including severe allergic reactions) may rarely occur. Side effects reported in at least 1% of patients treated with nicotine in clinical trials during and after marketing are presented in the table below. The frequency of occurrence is defined according to the following scheme: Very common (may occur in 1 to 10 out of 10 people), Common (may occur in 1 to 10 out of 100 people), Uncommon (may occur in 1 to 10 out of 1,000 people), Rare (may occur in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 people), Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data)
Classification of systems and organs Frequency of occurrence | Side effect |
Cardiac disorders Uncommon Uncommon | Palpitations (heart pounding) Tachycardia (rapid heart rate) |
Eye disorders Not known Not known | Blurred vision Increased tearing |
Gastrointestinal disorders Common Common Common Common Very common Common Common Common Common Not known Rare Uncommon Not known Uncommon Rare Uncommon Not known Uncommon Rare | Abdominal pain Dry mouth Nausea Bloating Nausea Excessive salivation Oral inflammation Vomiting Diarrhea Dryness of the throat Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) Belching Gastrointestinal discomfort Tongue inflammation Mouth numbness Blisters and peeling of the oral mucosa Lip pain Sensation of burning or numbness in the mouth Gagging |
Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon | Bronchospasm Voice disorders Dyspnea Nasal congestion Mouth and throat pain Sneezing Throat tightness |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Not known Not known Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon | Angioedema (a disease of the skin and mucous membranes, characterized by the occurrence of limited swelling) Flushing Excessive sweating Itching Rash Urticaria |
Vascular disorders Uncommon Uncommon | Flushing of the face Hypertension |
If you experience any side effects, including those not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Medicinal Products, Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, tel.: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309, website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl. Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of the medicine.
Store in a place out of sight and reach of children. Store at a temperature below 25°C. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month. Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.
Nicorette Icy White Gum does not contain sugar (sucrose) or ingredients of animal origin.
The pack contains 6, 10, 12, 15, 30, 105, or 210 gums in blisters placed in a cardboard box.
Marketing authorization holder:McNeil AB, SE-251 09 Helsingborg, Sweden.
Manufacturer:McNeil AB, SE-251 09 Helsingborg, Sweden.
To obtain more detailed information, please contact:
email: consumer-pl@kenvue.com
Date of last revision of the leaflet: June 2023
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