Nicotine Polacrilex
About Nicotine Polacrilex
Nicotine Polacrilex is an oral medicine used to support individuals who want to quit smoking. It serves as a temporary aid to make quitting tobacco easier by delivering controlled amounts of nicotine to your body. This targeted delivery helps reduce the physical withdrawal symptoms that make stopping smoking difficult.
You should take Nicotine Polacrilex consistently throughout the day whenever you feel the urge to smoke, following a schedule recommended by your healthcare provider. It is best taken at least 15 minutes after eating or drinking, as certain foods and beverages can significantly reduce how well the medicine is absorbed. Adopting behavioural coping strategies and attending counselling sessions are common lifestyle changes that can help improve your overall results.
Some people may experience common side effects such as mouth irritation, hiccups, or a mild upset stomach when using Nicotine Polacrilex. However, you must consult your doctor immediately if you face serious side effects, such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, or chest tightness.
Before starting Nicotine Polacrilex, talk to your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, or diabetes. Do not take this if you continue to smoke or use other tobacco products, or if you have had a recent heart attack.
Nicotine Polacrilex can interact with other drugs like insulin or asthma medications, requiring your doctor to monitor and adjust your treatment as your smoking habits change. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting Nicotine Polacrilex to ensure it is appropriate for you.
Uses of Nicotine Polacrilex
Medicinal Benefits
Nicotine Polacrilex helps people quit smoking by reducing nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It provides a controlled amount of nicotine without the harmful substances found in tobacco smoke, making the journey toward a smoke-free life more manageable. Benefits may include:
- Provides rapid relief from nicotine cravings and urges to smoke.
- Helps reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation.
- Delivers nicotine without exposure to tar, carbon monoxide, and other harmful chemicals found in cigarettes.
- Supports a gradual reduction in nicotine dependence over time.
- Increases the likelihood of successfully quitting smoking when used as part of a cessation program.
- Helps support long-term smoking cessation and improved overall health.
Directions for Use
To get the best results from Nicotine Polacrilex, follow these step-by-step instructions based on your specific oral form:
- For the chewing gum form: Chew one piece slowly until you feel a tingling sensation or taste a warm flavour. Stop chewing and park the gum between your cheek and gums. Once the tingling sensation fades, chew again and repeat this process for about 30 minutes.
- For the lozenge form: Place one lozenge in your mouth and allow it to dissolve slowly. Do not chew or swallow the lozenge whole, and occasionally move it from one side of your mouth to the other.
- For the pastille form: Place the pastille between your gum and cheek and suck it slowly for approximately 10-15 minutes. Do not chew it.
- Do not eat or drink anything, especially acidic beverages like coffee, juice, or soda, for at least 15 minutes before using Nicotine Polacrilex or while it is in your mouth.
Always remember to follow your doctor's exact instructions regarding the recommended frequency and duration of your treatment.
Storage
Side Effects of Nicotine Polacrilex
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Mouth or throat irritation
- Hiccups
- Upset stomach or mild nausea
- Increased saliva or dry mouth
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Severe dizziness or weakness
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including skin rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, and throat
- Severe mouth, tongue, or gum soreness
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Drug Warnings
- Use the gum correctly: Do not chew the gum too quickly, as swallowing excess nicotine may cause throat irritation, hiccups, heartburn, or an upset stomach.
- Follow the recommended dosing schedule: Do not use more than one piece of gum or lozenge at a time, and avoid using them back-to-back without the recommended break between doses.
- Avoid food and drinks during use: Do not eat or drink while the gum or lozenge is in your mouth, as this may affect how well the nicotine is absorbed.
- Inspect the packaging before use: Make sure the protective seal is intact and the packaging is not damaged before using the product.
- Take extra care with dental work: If you have dentures, bridges, or other dental appliances, use caution with the gum form as it may stick to and damage dental work. A lozenge may be a more suitable option.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions
- Asthma medications (such as theophylline): Quitting smoking can change how your liver processes these medicines, which may require your doctor to reduce your dosage as you stop smoking.
- Diabetes medications (such as insulin): Stopping smoking can improve your body's sensitivity to insulin, meaning your blood sugar levels should be monitored closely for necessary dose adjustments.
- Blood pressure medications (such as beta-blockers): Quitting smoking can alter your heart rate and circulation, which may change how effectively these drugs work in your body.
Drug-Food Interactions
- Acidic foods and drinks (like coffee, soda, and citrus juice): Consuming these items within 15 minutes of taking the medicine lowers the pH of your mouth, significantly reducing how much medicine is absorbed.
Drug-Disease Interactions
- Heart disease or high blood pressure: Nicotine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, so discuss your heart health with your doctor before starting.
- Stomach ulcers or severe acid reflux: Swallowing released nicotine can irritate your digestive tract and worsen symptoms of ulcers or heartburn.
- Diabetes: Nicotine can impact blood sugar control, requiring more frequent monitoring of your glucose levels during the initial phase of quitting.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeTaking Nicotine Polacrilex immediately before drinking alcohol will enhance the craving associated with alcohol use and may also reduce the effectiveness of nicotine replacement product. Thus, a person should not consume alcohol while taking Nicotine Polacrilex.
Pregnancy
cautionNicotine products may harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant, it is advised to stop smoking without using an alternate nicotine replacement product. If this seems impossible, please consult a doctor and do as advised. Nicotine Polacrilex should be used during pregnancy only if the doctor has suggested it.
Breast Feeding
cautionNicotine Polacrilex may be excreted in human milk. Please consult a doctor before using Nicotine Polacrilex if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Driving
safe if suggestedNicotine Polacrilex usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionTake Nicotine Polacrilex with caution if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Nicotine Polacrilex with caution if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeA child or adolescent who is under 18 years should not take Nicotine Polacrilex without a doctor's advice.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid acidic beverages around dosing: Do not drink acidic beverages such as coffee, fruit juices, sodas, or tea for at least 15 minutes before and while using Nicotine Polacrilex, as they can reduce the absorption of the medicine through the mouth.
- Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help relieve throat dryness and reduce mild stomach irritation.
- Identify and manage smoking triggers: Recognise situations that trigger the urge to smoke, such as stress, social gatherings, or driving, and replace smoking with healthier habits like chewing sugar-free gum or taking a short walk.
- Use a support system: Combine Nicotine Polacrilex with a smoking cessation program, counselling, or a support group to improve your chances of quitting smoking successfully and maintaining long-term results.
Special Advise
- The patient should immediately stop taking Nicotine Polacrilex if he/she experiences nicotine overdose symptoms like palpitation (a feeling that the heart is racing or pounding), dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
- If you have dental or gum problems, contact the doctor before using nicotine chewing gums.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Tobacco (nicotine) addiction: Smoking or chewing tobacco is both a psychological habit and physical dependence. Tobacco contains a chemical called nicotine, which is short-lived but highly addictive, and its regular usage can make a person crave it. Breathing or chewing tobacco provides a rush of adrenaline in the bloodstream, and it also triggers dopamine that is associated with the pleasure and reward centre of the brain. Regular nicotine consumption is hazardous for health and puts a person at a high risk of lung and heart diseases. However, quitting nicotine is not an easy task. It causes withdrawal symptoms in the body, including irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, restlessness, depressed mood and insomnia (sleeplessness or lack of sleep).
FAQs
Nicotine Polacrilex belongs to a group of medications called nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) used to reduce the craving to smoke and tobacco usage. Nicotine is a chemical present in tobacco that causes addiction.
Nicotine Polacrilex contains Nicotine that acts as a smoking cessation aid. It helps in quitting nicotine (tobacco) use by slowly adjusting the body to have less craving to use nicotine.
You should avoid drinking coffee, as well as sodas and juices, for at least 15 minutes before and during the use of Nicotine Polacrilex. These drinks are acidic and can stop your body from absorbing the medicine properly. Talk to your pharmacist for more tips.
Nicotine Polacrilex may be used to treat nicotine withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability, low mood, cravings and restlessness. Please consult your doctor for more information.
You are recommended to avoid taking Nicotine Polacrilex if you have/had heart disease, irregular heartbeats, a heart attack, stroke, untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, stomach ulcer, seizure (fits), and if you are on a low sodium (table salt) diet. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you have any of these conditions before taking Nicotine Polacrilex.
You should not smoke while using Nicotine Polacrilex. Combining smoking with this product can lead to an excessive buildup of nicotine in your system, which may cause symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or a rapid heart rate. Talk to your doctor if you find it difficult to stop smoking completely.
Most people use Nicotine Polacrilex for up to 12 weeks while gradually decreasing their usage. Using it for longer than recommended is generally not advised unless suggested by your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for personalized guidance.
You should consult your healthcare provider before using Nicotine Polacrilex during pregnancy. While it is generally preferred over smoking, your doctor will help you weigh the risks and benefits. Talk to your doctor for advice.
The medicine itself does not cause weight gain, but many people naturally experience some weight gain when they stop smoking. Using Nicotine Polacrilex can actually help delay post-quitting weight gain while you adjust to a smoke-free lifestyle. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian for advice.
This usually happens if you chew the gum too fast or swallow the saliva too quickly instead of letting the medicine absorb through your cheeks. Try using the chew and park method or letting the lozenge dissolve slowly. Talk to your pharmacist if these symptoms continue.
Nicotine can be highly toxic to children. If a child swallows or chews Nicotine Polacrilex, seek emergency medical care or call a poison control center immediately. Talk to your doctor if you need further safety advice.
No, you should not swallow them. Swallowing the medicine prevents the active ingredient from being absorbed through your mouth and can lead to stomach irritation, nausea, or throat burning. Talk to your doctor if you accidentally swallow one.
