ASDA NICOTINE REPLACE 4 MG GUM, NICOTINE 4 MG MEDICATED CHEWING GUM, GALPHARM NICOTINE REPLACE 4 MG GUM, SAINSBURYS HEALTHCARE NICOTINE REPLACEMENT 4 MG GUM, SUPERDRUG NICOTINE REPLACEMENT 4 MG GUM - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Superdrug Nicotine Replacement 4mg Gum

Nicotine

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you take this medicine because it contains important information you need to know.

This medicine is available without prescription, (however, you still need to use this product carefully to get the best results from it. Keep this leaflet as you may need to read it again. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you need more information or advice.

IN THIS LEAFLET:

• 1. What Superdrug Nicotine Replacement 4mg Gum is and what it is used for?

• 2. Before you take Superdrug Nicotine Replacement 4mg Gum

• 3. How to take Superdrug Nicotine Replacement 4mg Gum

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. Storing Superdrug Nicotine Replacement 4mg Gum

|6. Further information

□ WHAT SUPERDRUG NICOTINE REPLACEMENT 4MG GUM IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR?

Nicotine 4mg Gum can reduce your urge to smoke by providing some of the nicotine previously inhaled from cigarettes. This type of treatment is called Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).

Nicotine 4mg Gum contains nicotine resin which yvhen chewed, releases nicotine which is absorbed through the lining of the mouth. This nicotine relieves some of the cravings and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as feeling ill, anxious and irritable, that smokers frequently feel when they try to give up ^moking or cut down the number of cigarettes smoked.

When you are pregnant or breast-feeding it is best if [Nicotine 4mg Gum is used to help you stop smoking. Using NRT is safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke. See the ‘If you are Pregnant or [Breast-feeding' section for more information.

Nicotine 4mg Gum can be used to stop smoking completely by replacing all of your cigarettes. However, it can also be used to help:

I* cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke, for example, if you are unable to stop smoking completely or want to replace certain cigarettes

have liver or kidney disease have a stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer or have inflammation of the oesophagus (oesophagitis), which is the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach have an uncontrolled, overactive thyroid gland or have been diagnosed as having a tumour of the adrenal glands (phaeochromocytoma) are diabetic, as diabetic patients need to monitor blood sugar levels more closely as nicotine from smoking or from taking the gum may vary them more than usual are taking other medicines such as theophylline, clozapine or ropinirole. When you stop smoking yourl metabolism slows down and this may alter the way your body responds to certain medicines.

Important information about some of the ingredients in this medicine:

This medicine contains maltitol and sucralose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

This medicine contains butylated hydroxytoluene, which may cause local skin reactions (e.g contact dermatitis), and local irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes.

If you are Pregnant or Breast-feeding

If you are pregnant

• Smoking when you are pregnant is harmful to your baby. If you are pregnant it is best to give up smoking without using NRT. Stopping smoking completely is the best option, and the earlier you stop smoking the better it is for the health of you and your baby
• If you can't manage stopping smoking, using NRT is a safer alternative than continuing to smoke.

However, you should ask for advice from your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Nicotine 4mg Gum may be more suitable for use than patches as it can be used intermittently. If you have nausea or sickness, patches, may be more suitable, however, if you do use patches] take them off before going to bed at night.

If you are breast-feeding

• If you are breast-feeding it is best if you stop smoking without NRT
• If you do use NRT while breast-feeding, products that are taken intermittently such as gum are best. However, you should talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for more advice.

Try to breast-feed just before you take the gum, when nicotine levels in your body are at their lowest. That way your baby gets as little nicotine as possible. If you do need to use NRT to help you stop smoking,, your baby may receive a smaller amount of nicotine and this is less dangerous than breathing in secondhand smoke.

Tobacco smoke is harmful to babies and children, causing breathing difficulties and other problems.

0HOW TO TAKE SUPERDRUG NICOTINE REPLACEMENT 4MG GUM

• The following instructions for use depend on whether you are stopping smoking completely, cutting down the number of cigarettes you smoke per day or if you are going without cigarettes for a short time
• The 4mg chewing gums are suitable for people who smoke 20 or more cigarettes per day
• The chewing gum may not be suitable for use if you have false teeth, as it could stick to them and more rarely, damage the dentures.

Please turn over ta*

Adults and young people aged 12 years ancTover

How to chew your chewing gum

This is a special type of gum and is not like ordinary chewing gum. Use it as follows:

• Chew 1 piece of medicated chewing gum for about 30 minutes with regular pauses

• * It is important to chew the medicated chewing gum slowly and with regular pauses to allow the nicotine to be taken in through the lining of the mouth, and also so that the nicotine is not released too quickly

• After 30 minutes dispose of the chewing gum carefully.

Stopping Smoking Completely

Ilf you are able to stop smoking completely, use a medicated chewing gum in place of cigarettes when needed. As soon as you feel ready, you should reduce ^he number of chewing gums you use until you are able to stop taking them completely. It is important to make every effort to stop smoking completely. But if you do sometimes smoke a cigarette while using NRT, don't be discouraged – just keep going with your quit attempt. It may help to talk to a healthcare professional if you are finding your quit attempt difficult.

Cutting down the number of cigarettes smoked per day

if you are unable to stop smoking completely or want p replace certain cigarettes you should use Nicotine 4mg Gum in place of as many cigarettes as possible. You may find it easier to quit completely later if you use this gum to help you cut down on smoking first.

(/ou can also use Nicotine 4mg Gum to help manage your cravings in situations where you can't or do not wish to smoke, for example, at work or on public transport.

OYou are more likely to quit smoking when using this product with help from your pharmacist, doctor, a trained counsellor, or a support programme.

If you are worried that you may start smoking again, talk to a healthcare professional. They can advise you on |how to get the best results from further courses of NRT.

ilf you are finding it difficult to stop using NRT completely, talk to a healthcare professional.

What should you do if you use too many gums?

If you take more than the recommended number of gums, you may suffer a nicotine overdose and need to pet advice from your doctor. Signs of overdose include headache, sickness, stomach pains and diarrhoea.

If a child has used or swallowed the gums Contact a doctor or your nearest hospital casualty department immediately if a child under 12 years uses, chews or swallows this medicine. Take this leaflet and the pack with you. Nicotine ingestion by a child may result in severe poisoning.

P POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Sometimes there can be some side effects from giving up smoking or using this chewing gum.

At the start of treatment the chewing gum may causej a slight throat irritation, it may also cause an increase in salivation. Occasionally, the chewing gum may stick to, and rarely, it may damage dentures.

Other side effects include:

• Very common side effects (more than 1 in every 10 people are affected) headache
• stomach discomfort, hiccups and feeling sick
• sore mouth or throat
• jaw-muscle ache

Common side effects (less than 1 in every 10 people are affected)

• dizziness
• sickness (vomiting)

Uncommon side effects (less than 1 in every 100 people are affected)

• irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
• hives (rashes)
• redness or itching of the skin

Rare side effects (less than 1 in 1000 people are affected)

• Allergic reactions (swelling of the face, lips and throat (angioedema) which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing).

Very rare side effects (less than 1 in 10,000 people are affected)

• Abnormal heart beats