Quitting with the Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gum is a form of nicotine replacement which may increase your chances of stopping smoking compared with will power alone. It looks like regular chewing gum but it contains a nicotine compound that is designed to slowly release nicotine into the mouth when you chew it. Nicotine gum is available without a prescription and in varying strengths.

There is a correct way of using the gum, or the full effects will be lost. The gum should be chewed slowly until the taste becomes strong, at this point you should stop chewing and rest the gum against the inside of your cheek. When the taste starts to fade, start chewing the gum again until the taste becomes strong once more, then rest the gum again. By doing this, each piece of gum will last for about half an hour per piece. You can tell when it is finished because the gum will no longer have any taste. After disposing of the gum you can repeat this process again the next time you feel the need to smoke. Do not over chew the gum or you will release too much nicotine into your bloodstream.

If you have any medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, over-active thyroid gland, kidney or liver disease, or stomach ulcers you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Similar advice applies if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Whatever form of nicotine replacement therapy you choose, side-effects can happen. Common side-effects may include:

You may get hiccups
Your tongue may tingle while chewing the gum
You may get mouth ulcers, or soreness in the mouth
You may have indigestion - this may be caused by chewing the gum incorrectly
You may not like the taste of some nicotine gums.

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