Nicotine
Description
Nicotine is used for Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for people with smoking
addiction. It is available a transdermal patch, chewing gums, nasal inhaler spray and tablets. Using a controlled amount of nicotine helps to reduce the withdrawal symptoms when you quit smoking.
Uses
- To quit smoking
- To quit tobacco chewing habit
Contraindications
When should one not use Nicotine
- Heart disease
- Heart rhythm disorder
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Stomach ulcer
- Seizures
- Allergy to Nicotine
Side effects
Common side effects of this drug are:
- Sleep disturbances and vivid dreams
- Nicotine gum and lozenges may cause heartburn, hiccups and nausea
- Nicotine nasal spray and inhaler may cause throat irritation, runny nose, sneezing and coughing
- Nicotine patch may cause skin irritation
Precautions and Warnings
Pregnancy
Q:
Can I take Nicotine during pregnancy?
A:
Nicotine and smoking may harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant, try to stop smoking without using nicotine. During pregnancy, this medication should be used if and only when prescribed by the doctor.
Breast Feeding
Q:
Can I take Nicotine while breastfeeding?
A:
Nicotine from smoking and this medicine passes into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Driving
Q:
Can I drive if I have consumed Nicotine?
A:
Using this medicine is not known to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Alcohol
Q:
Can I consume alcohol with Nicotine?
A:
Avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages when taking Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
Other General Warnings
Talk to your doctor if
- Take the dose of this medicine strictly as prescribed by your doctor
- Do not alter the dosage in any case by yourself
- Tell your doctor if you have diabetes
- Monitor your blood sugar levels more often when you start using this medicine
- Doctor may adjust the dose of Insulin you take
- All your ongoing medicines
Mode of Action
How Does It Work?
Nicotine can help you to quit smoking by replacing Nicotine in cigarettes. When you stop smoking, nicotine levels in the body drop suddenly, causing withdrawal symptoms like nervousness, irritability, headache and weight gain. Nicotine is given in such cases to avoid a sudden drop in blood-nicotine levels and thus prevents withdrawal reaction. A gradual tapering of nicotine replacement helps you to overcome smoking or tobacco addiction completely....
Interactions
Interactions with other medicines
- Medicines for high blood pressure (e.g.,beta-blockers such as Labetalol, Prazosin)
- Bronchodilators/ decongestants (such as Isoproterenol, Phenylephrine )
- If you stop smoking, it can change the way the liver removes certain medicines from your body (e.g. Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Insulin, Oxazepam, Pentazocine, Propoxyphene, Propranolol, Theophylline)
- Tricyclic antidepressants such as Amitriptyline/ Imipramine
- Water pills/ Diuretics such as Furosemide
Interactions with food items
No interactions specified.
Dosage
Overdose
Symptoms of overdose can be lethal. Burning of the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, excess salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, headache, dizziness, hearing and visual disturbances, weakness, confusion, syncope, extreme tiredness, breathing difficulty, rapid heartbeats (and fast or weak or irregular pulse), low blood pressure, fits, respiration failure, coma. Seek emergency medical care immediately....
Missed a Dose
Skip the missed dose if it is almost the time for the next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to compensate for the missed dose.
Content Details
WRITTEN BY
Dr. Arpit Verma
MBBS, MD CCEBDM Diabetology
REVIEWED BY
Dr. Ritu Budania
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What should I discuss with my healthcare expert before taking Nicotine?
A: Give a detailed account of your medical and surgical history. The doctor should also know about other health supplements like herbal medications and nutritional supplements that you may take before starting this medication.
Q: What are the precautions should I take while on this medicine?
A: The dosage regimen of medicine should be followed regularly. Any dose miscalculation will have a serious effect.
References
Share This With Your Friends
Recent articles
Disclaimer
The information provided herein is supplied to the best of our abilities to make it accurate and reliable as it is published after a review by a team of professionals. This information is solely intended to provide a general overview on the product and must be used for informational purposes only. You should not use the information provided herein to diagnose, prevent, or cure a health problem. Nothing contained on this page is intended to create a doctor-patient relationship, replace or be a substitute for a registered medical practitioner's medical treatment/advice or consultation. The absence of any information or warning to any medicine shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance. We highly recommend that you consult your registered medical practitioner for all queries or doubts related to your medical condition. You hereby agree that you shall not make any health or medical-related decision based in whole or in part on anything contained in the Site. Please click here for detailed T&C.
Medicines containing Nicotine
+ View More Medicines
