Using Nicotine Lozenges to Quit Smoking

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPros and Cons of Nicotine LozengesNicotine Lozenge Brands and StrengthsNicotine Lozenge DosingSide EffectsSpecial PrecautionsAre Nicotine Lozenges Right for You?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Pros and Cons of Nicotine Lozenges

Nicotine Lozenge Brands and Strengths

Nicotine Lozenge Dosing

Side Effects

Special Precautions

Are Nicotine Lozenges Right for You?

The nicotine lozenge is anicotine replacement therapy (NRT)product that comes in the form of a small, candy-like tablet in flavors like cinnamon, fruit, and mint. When a nicotine lozenge is placed in the mouth and allowed to dissolve over the course of 20 to 30 minutes, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream, relieving short-term cravings to smoke.

Many people use nicotine lozenges as an aid to quit smoking, though there are many things you should know and understand about these lozenges before using them.

At a GlanceUsing a nictoine lozenge can help you deal with cravings and improve your chances of quitting smoking successfully. They have pros and cons, so it’s important to decide if they are right for your needs. If you decide to try nicotine lozenges, be sure to follow the recommended dosing schedule, watch for side effects, and talk to your doctor if you have concerns or need additional assistance.

At a Glance

Using a nictoine lozenge can help you deal with cravings and improve your chances of quitting smoking successfully. They have pros and cons, so it’s important to decide if they are right for your needs. If you decide to try nicotine lozenges, be sure to follow the recommended dosing schedule, watch for side effects, and talk to your doctor if you have concerns or need additional assistance.

Nicotine lozenges offer quick relief from cravings that are part ofnicotine withdrawal. However, they are not a fail-safe solution.

Lozenges should be used on an as-needed basis, but in part, because they are similar to candy—both in taste and form—the potential to misuse this quit aid is significant. While you don’t need a doctor’s prescription for nicotine lozenges, they are an over-the-counter medication that must be used exactly as directed, and you need to carefully wean yourself off of them in the amount of time suggested.

Also, while you can use them in the moment for fast relief, that means you have to use them regularly and often and keep them readily available throughout the day, which can be a drawback.

According to the 2020 Surgeon General report on smoking cessation, an advantage to using a lozenge is that it may substitute for a cigarette because you put it in your mouth.

Nicotine lozenges are available in different brand names as well as generic products.Brand names associated with the nicotine lozenge include Commit, Nicorette, and Nicorette Mini Lozenge.

You can choose the right lozenge strength based on when your first cigarette of the day typically was and following these guidelines:

Nicotine lozenges should be used in the following dosages:

Because acidic foods and beverages can inhibit the absorption ofnicotinethrough the lining of the mouth, lozenge manufacturers recommend waiting 15 minutes after eating before using a nicotine lozenge.

Also, if you useany other NRT or smoke while usingnicotine lozenges, you run the risk of a nicotine overdose.

Nicotine Lozenge Side Effects

Side effects that are commonly associated with nicotine lozenge therapy include:

Sore throatIf you experience any of the following side effects, stop using the nicotine lozenge and contact your doctor immediately:

Continuing to smoke while using nicotine lozenges or using more lozenges than recommended could result in serious side effects.

Special Precautions to Consider

You should consult your doctor before using nicotine lozenges if any of the following conditions apply to you.

Pregnancy

Smoking is harmful to the fetus, so you should try to quit before you get pregnant, if possible. If you are not able to, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to safely quit smoking during pregnancy.

Using Certain Medications

People who smokemetabolize some medications more quicklythan non-smokers,so be sure to let your doctor know about all medicines you’re taking, including vitamins and supplements.

Allergies

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicines, foods, or other substances. To that end, if you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a rash or swelling, while using nicotine lozenges, speak to your doctor immediately.

History of Cardiac Issues

Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, angina, or have had a heart attack. Nicotine can raise your blood pressure and heart rate.

Other Health Issues

Speak to your provider before using nicotine lozenges if you have medical conditions such as:

Special Diets

If you are on a low-sodium diet or have phenylketonuria (PKU), a disorder that results in too much phenylalanine in the blood, be sure to tell your doctor. Some nicotine replacement products contain aspartame which needs to be avoided in PKU.

Nicotine in excess is poisonous, and lozenges may contain enoughnicotine to harmchildren or pets. Store them in a safe place, and contactPoison Control at 800-222-1222 in case of an overdose.

In order to decide if nicotine lozenges could work for you, consider what makes them unique. For example, likenicotine gum, they are available over-the-counter and taken orally.

They also work to alleviate nicotine cravings as they happen; while the patch, for example, releases nicotine on an ongoing basis.According to the National Library of Medicine, some people may prefer having the control over timing and dose that comes with lozenges.

Nicotine withdrawalhas both physical and emotional symptoms. Physical withdrawal symptoms can include, digestive issues, headaches, and feeling more hungry,while emotional symptoms can include a range of reactions including feelingirritable, anxious, sad, bored, and tired.

According to the American Cancer Society, NRT addresses some of the physical withdrawal symptoms.

However, it’s important to seek other support for the emotional issues that can arise with nicotine cessation. Because addiction and recovery are complex, lozenges alone may not work for some people in their quest to quit smoking, but they could be a great tool to complement other treatments such as counseling or a quit program.

Consider All Your OptionsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasa guideto help decide which quit smoking medicine may be best for you.

Consider All Your Options

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasa guideto help decide which quit smoking medicine may be best for you.

It’s also a good idea to go over any special considerations, such as your medical history, with your healthcare provider to decide if nicotine lozenges are a good option to help youstop smoking. Finally, to help your success, it’s best if you’re motivated to quit smoking before you start using nicotine lozenges.

Keep in Mind

Nicotine lozenges can help you quit smoking, but keep in mind that it is a quit aid, not a miracle worker. The magic for success with smoking cessation lies withinyou. Work on developing your resolve to quit smoking one day at a time and be patient.

Adding someonline supportto your quit program can improve the chance of long-term success with smoking cessation. The beauty of online help is that it is available to you 24/7.

Time, determination, and support will help you kick the habit of smoking. Believe that, believe in yourself, and be willing to do the work it takes to quit. You’ll find that youcanquit smoking, just as others have.

Best Non-Medical Ways to Quit Smoking

17 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wadgave U, Nagesh L.Nicotine replacement therapy: An overview.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2016;10(3):425-35.Dautzenberg B, Nides M, Kienzler JL, Callens A.Pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy from randomized controlled trials of 1 and 2 mg nicotine bitartrate lozenges (Nicotinell).BMC Clin Pharmacol.2007;7:11. doi:10.1186/1472-6904-7-11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nicotine lozenge.Department of Health and Human Services.Smoking cessation: A report of the Surgeon General.Sukhija M, Srivastava R, Kaushik A.Pharmacokinetic characterization of three novel 4-mg nicotine lozenges.Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018;56(3):113-119. doi:10.5414/CP203097Baker TB, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, et al.Time to first cigarette in the morning as an index of ability to quit smoking: Implications for nicotine dependence.Nicotine Tob Res.2007;9 Suppl 4:S555-70. doi:10.1080/14622200701673480Devi RE, Barman D, Sinha S, Hazarika SJ, Das S.Nicotine replacement therapy: A friend or foe.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(6):2615-2620. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_313_20Mills EJ, Wu P, Lockhart I, Wilson K, Ebbert JO.Adverse events associated with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. A systematic review and meta-analysis of one hundred and twenty studies involving 177,390 individuals.Tob Induc Dis.2010;8:8. doi:10.1186/1617-9625-8-8Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Puig BM, Kaerlev L, Peraita-Costa I, Perales-Marín A.Safety of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy: A narrative review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):250. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010250Maideen NMP.Tobacco smoking and its drug interactions with comedications involving CYP and UGT enzymes and nicotine.World Journal of Pharmacology. 2019;8(2):14-25. doi:10.5497/wjp.v8.i2.14Cleveland Clinic.Nicotine lozenges.National Library of Medicine.Nicorette medication label.National Library of Medicine.NICORETTE-nicotine polacrilex lozenge.MedlinePlus.Phenylketonuria.MedlinePlus.Nicotine replacement therapy.McLaughlin I, Dani JA, De Biasi M.Nicotine withdrawal.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2015;24:99-123. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_4American Cancer Society.Dealing with the mental part of tobacco addiction..Additional ReadingGlaxoSmithKline.Frequently asked questions about Nicorette.GlaxoSmithKline.Nicotine Lozenges Dosing and Administration.Medline Plus.Nicotine lozenges.

17 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wadgave U, Nagesh L.Nicotine replacement therapy: An overview.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2016;10(3):425-35.Dautzenberg B, Nides M, Kienzler JL, Callens A.Pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy from randomized controlled trials of 1 and 2 mg nicotine bitartrate lozenges (Nicotinell).BMC Clin Pharmacol.2007;7:11. doi:10.1186/1472-6904-7-11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nicotine lozenge.Department of Health and Human Services.Smoking cessation: A report of the Surgeon General.Sukhija M, Srivastava R, Kaushik A.Pharmacokinetic characterization of three novel 4-mg nicotine lozenges.Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018;56(3):113-119. doi:10.5414/CP203097Baker TB, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, et al.Time to first cigarette in the morning as an index of ability to quit smoking: Implications for nicotine dependence.Nicotine Tob Res.2007;9 Suppl 4:S555-70. doi:10.1080/14622200701673480Devi RE, Barman D, Sinha S, Hazarika SJ, Das S.Nicotine replacement therapy: A friend or foe.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(6):2615-2620. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_313_20Mills EJ, Wu P, Lockhart I, Wilson K, Ebbert JO.Adverse events associated with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. A systematic review and meta-analysis of one hundred and twenty studies involving 177,390 individuals.Tob Induc Dis.2010;8:8. doi:10.1186/1617-9625-8-8Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Puig BM, Kaerlev L, Peraita-Costa I, Perales-Marín A.Safety of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy: A narrative review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):250. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010250Maideen NMP.Tobacco smoking and its drug interactions with comedications involving CYP and UGT enzymes and nicotine.World Journal of Pharmacology. 2019;8(2):14-25. doi:10.5497/wjp.v8.i2.14Cleveland Clinic.Nicotine lozenges.National Library of Medicine.Nicorette medication label.National Library of Medicine.NICORETTE-nicotine polacrilex lozenge.MedlinePlus.Phenylketonuria.MedlinePlus.Nicotine replacement therapy.McLaughlin I, Dani JA, De Biasi M.Nicotine withdrawal.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2015;24:99-123. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_4American Cancer Society.Dealing with the mental part of tobacco addiction..Additional ReadingGlaxoSmithKline.Frequently asked questions about Nicorette.GlaxoSmithKline.Nicotine Lozenges Dosing and Administration.Medline Plus.Nicotine lozenges.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Wadgave U, Nagesh L.Nicotine replacement therapy: An overview.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2016;10(3):425-35.Dautzenberg B, Nides M, Kienzler JL, Callens A.Pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy from randomized controlled trials of 1 and 2 mg nicotine bitartrate lozenges (Nicotinell).BMC Clin Pharmacol.2007;7:11. doi:10.1186/1472-6904-7-11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nicotine lozenge.Department of Health and Human Services.Smoking cessation: A report of the Surgeon General.Sukhija M, Srivastava R, Kaushik A.Pharmacokinetic characterization of three novel 4-mg nicotine lozenges.Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018;56(3):113-119. doi:10.5414/CP203097Baker TB, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, et al.Time to first cigarette in the morning as an index of ability to quit smoking: Implications for nicotine dependence.Nicotine Tob Res.2007;9 Suppl 4:S555-70. doi:10.1080/14622200701673480Devi RE, Barman D, Sinha S, Hazarika SJ, Das S.Nicotine replacement therapy: A friend or foe.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(6):2615-2620. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_313_20Mills EJ, Wu P, Lockhart I, Wilson K, Ebbert JO.Adverse events associated with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. A systematic review and meta-analysis of one hundred and twenty studies involving 177,390 individuals.Tob Induc Dis.2010;8:8. doi:10.1186/1617-9625-8-8Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Puig BM, Kaerlev L, Peraita-Costa I, Perales-Marín A.Safety of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy: A narrative review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):250. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010250Maideen NMP.Tobacco smoking and its drug interactions with comedications involving CYP and UGT enzymes and nicotine.World Journal of Pharmacology. 2019;8(2):14-25. doi:10.5497/wjp.v8.i2.14Cleveland Clinic.Nicotine lozenges.National Library of Medicine.Nicorette medication label.National Library of Medicine.NICORETTE-nicotine polacrilex lozenge.MedlinePlus.Phenylketonuria.MedlinePlus.Nicotine replacement therapy.McLaughlin I, Dani JA, De Biasi M.Nicotine withdrawal.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2015;24:99-123. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_4American Cancer Society.Dealing with the mental part of tobacco addiction..

Wadgave U, Nagesh L.Nicotine replacement therapy: An overview.Int J Health Sci (Qassim).2016;10(3):425-35.

Dautzenberg B, Nides M, Kienzler JL, Callens A.Pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy from randomized controlled trials of 1 and 2 mg nicotine bitartrate lozenges (Nicotinell).BMC Clin Pharmacol.2007;7:11. doi:10.1186/1472-6904-7-11

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nicotine lozenge.

Department of Health and Human Services.Smoking cessation: A report of the Surgeon General.

Sukhija M, Srivastava R, Kaushik A.Pharmacokinetic characterization of three novel 4-mg nicotine lozenges.Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018;56(3):113-119. doi:10.5414/CP203097

Baker TB, Piper ME, McCarthy DE, et al.Time to first cigarette in the morning as an index of ability to quit smoking: Implications for nicotine dependence.Nicotine Tob Res.2007;9 Suppl 4:S555-70. doi:10.1080/14622200701673480

Devi RE, Barman D, Sinha S, Hazarika SJ, Das S.Nicotine replacement therapy: A friend or foe.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(6):2615-2620. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_313_20

Mills EJ, Wu P, Lockhart I, Wilson K, Ebbert JO.Adverse events associated with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. A systematic review and meta-analysis of one hundred and twenty studies involving 177,390 individuals.Tob Induc Dis.2010;8:8. doi:10.1186/1617-9625-8-8

Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Puig BM, Kaerlev L, Peraita-Costa I, Perales-Marín A.Safety of nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy: A narrative review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):250. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010250

Maideen NMP.Tobacco smoking and its drug interactions with comedications involving CYP and UGT enzymes and nicotine.World Journal of Pharmacology. 2019;8(2):14-25. doi:10.5497/wjp.v8.i2.14

Cleveland Clinic.Nicotine lozenges.

National Library of Medicine.Nicorette medication label.

National Library of Medicine.NICORETTE-nicotine polacrilex lozenge.

MedlinePlus.Phenylketonuria.

MedlinePlus.Nicotine replacement therapy.

McLaughlin I, Dani JA, De Biasi M.Nicotine withdrawal.Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2015;24:99-123. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13482-6_4

American Cancer Society.Dealing with the mental part of tobacco addiction..

GlaxoSmithKline.Frequently asked questions about Nicorette.GlaxoSmithKline.Nicotine Lozenges Dosing and Administration.Medline Plus.Nicotine lozenges.

GlaxoSmithKline.Frequently asked questions about Nicorette.

GlaxoSmithKline.Nicotine Lozenges Dosing and Administration.

Medline Plus.Nicotine lozenges.

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