How to Properly Use Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gum is designed for the treatment of tobacco use and dependence. Each piece is placed in your mouth, chewed for 5 to 10 minutes until a peppery taste appears, then “parked” between your cheek and gum. The gum is then intermittently chewed a few times, then parked again. Discard the gum after 20 to 30 minutes. Gum should be used on a regular schedule, approximately one piece per hour, for maximum effect. 

Gum comes in two different strengths and it is important to use the correct dosage for your current tobacco use. If you have your first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up, you should likely use the 4mg gum, for example. If you smoke more than a pack a day, you may even want to use the nicotine gum in combination with another medication, like nicotine patches or a prescription medication. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines and if you feel the medication dosage isn’t working for you, you should speak with your doctor about adjusting the dosage or adding another medication.