Guidelines for Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Nicotine Gum

These instructions are for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia patients who are beginning nicotine replacement therapy.

Patient instructions: nicotine gum

Congratulations on taking the next step to become tobacco free!

Park/chew method:

• Chew each piece very slowly.

• Stop chewing gum when you have tingling or a pepper taste in your mouth.

• “Park” or place the nicotine gum between your cheek and gum of mouth.

• When the taste or tingle fades, start chewing again.

• When taste or tingle returns, stop and “park” gum between cheek and gum of mouth.

• Repeat the chew/park steps until most of the nicotine taste is gone. This may take about 30 minutes.

• Throw gum away when you are done. Do not swallow gum!

Recommended use:

If you smoke less than 20 cigarettes a day or vape less than 15 times a day. (One "time" consists of around 15 puffs or lasts around 10 minutes)

• Use 4mg nicotine gum.

If you smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day or vape more than 15 times day (One "time" consists of around 15 puffs or lasts around 10 minutes)

• Use 2mg nicotine lozenges.

Throughout nicotine replacement therapy, try to increase the amount of time between each piece of nicotine gum. You may use up to 24 pieces each day. Do not use more than 24 pieces of nicotine gum in one day.

• Weeks 1-6: Use 1 piece every 1 to 2 hours as needed.

• Weeks 7-9: Use 1 piece every 2 to 4 hours as needed.

• Weeks 10-12: Use 1 piece every 4 to 8 hours as needed.

Temporary side effects of nicotine gum can include:

• Dizziness or light-headed

• Nausea or vomiting

• Irritation of the mouth or throat

Other side effects can include:

• Aching jaw muscles from chewing the gum for long periods

• Soreness or ulcers in the mouth

• Headaches

• Loud or rapid beating of the heart

These side effects are temporary and will not last.

Reviewed on November 2023, by Leighann Sweeney, RRT-NPS, CTTS, AE-C