Using Nicotine Polacrilex Lozenges Properly

Read all the instructions in your package before taking your first piece of Nicotine Polacrilex Gum. Refer back to the guide often to make sure you’re using the product correctly.

Remember, Nicotine Polacrilex Gum isn’t like ordinary chewing gum. Chewed like regular gum, this product won’t work correctly and may cause side effects. It is important to practice chewing, as directed below, in order for it to work properly.

Upon placing the gum in your mouth:

  • Chew each piece very slowly several times.
  • Stop chewing when you notice a peppery taste or a slight tingling in your mouth, typically after 15 chews but varies by user.
  • Park the nicotine gum between the cheek of your mouth and your gums. Leave it there.
  • When the peppery taste/tingle is almost gone (apx. one minute) start to chew a few times slowly again. When the taste of the tingle returns, stop chewing and park the gum, once again, between your cheek and gums. Choose a different area than the last time.
  • Repeat steps 3 to 7 (chew, chew, park) until most of the nicotine is gone from the nicotine gum, typically about one half of an hour.

Always remember:

  • Do not eat or drink 15 minutes before using or while the gum is in your mouth.
  • Do not chew more than one piece at a time, and do not continuously chew one piece after another. This may cause hiccups, heartburn, nausea or other side effects.
  • This isn’t ordinary gum, it is medicine. So, don’t give up if you do not like the taste/tingle. Most people get used to it after a day or two.

Starting The Program


Before you begin, confirm you have the right dose:

If you typically smoke your first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up, start with the 4 mg gum.

If you smoke your first cigarette more than 30 minutes after waking up, start with the 2 mg gum.

Next, plan your quitting schedule:

Get a calendar and pick a quit date. Then mark the following four important dates on the calendar. Prior to the quit date, get rid of all your cigarettes to remove temptations and make it more difficult to start smoking again.

Place these reminders on your calendar:

Asset 17

(Download Reminders)

Begin taking the gum:

To reduce cravings and other withdrawal symptoms, use the gum according to the following dosage schedule, outlined in STEP 1 through STEP 3.

NOTE: To increase your chances of quitting, use 9 to 12 pieces every day when you first begin. Do not use more than 24 pieces per day.

STEP 1: Weeks 1-6
Use 1 piece every 1 to 2 hours

Welcome to Step 1. Starting on your quit date through week 6, use 1 piece every 1 to 2 hours.

QUIT TIP: Be sure to use at least 9 pieces of Nicotine Polacrilex Gum each day to help prevent unexpected cravings and improve your chances of quitting. Some people may need more to reduce their cravings. Although you can take another piece within the hour, do not continuously use one piece after another. Do not exceed the recommended maximum daily dosage of 24 pieces per day.

STEP 2: Weeks 7-9
Use 1 piece every 2 to 4 hours

You’ve made it to Step 2, which is week 7. You can now start using 1 piece every 2 to 4 hours. This will help you gradually use less as the program progresses.

QUIT TIP: Some people find it easier to reduce use of nicotine gum by substituting with ordinary chewing gum. As time goes on, you can increase the number of pieces of regular chewing gum as you further reduce your use of the nicotine gum.

STEP 3: Weeks 10-12
Use 1 piece every 4 to 8 hours

You’ve made it to Step 3, which is the beginning of week 10 and the final 3 weeks of the program. You can now start using 1 piece every 4 to 8 hours.

QUIT TIP: At the end of week 12, you’ll complete your quit program, and you will be smoke- and nicotine-free. Put the “EX-SMOKER” reminder on your calendar 12 weeks after the day you stopped smoking and started using the product. If you still feel the need to use an NRT to keep from smoking after week 12, talk with your healthcare provider.

You've Made It!

Once your 12-week quitting program is over, you’ve taken your last Nicotine Polacrilex Gum. Now, you are both cigarette- and nicotine-free. Get up and give yourself a standing ovation. We mean it. Do you realize that you have just done a really difficult thing?

Now is a good time to think back on the process. Think of all your reasons for quitting smoking. Think of the extra time you may have added to your life and what you can do with it. Think of what you’re going to do with your newly liberated cigarette money. Think of all the places you can now go smoke-free.

Although you may still experience temptations from time to time, remember to think positively, stay strong and be a proud non-smoker.