Nicotine buccal absorption

Rgure 9.16 Buccal absorption of some basic drugs. The drugs were dissolved in buffered solutions of different pH and placed in the mouth of human subjects absorption rates were determined from the decrease of drug concentration in expelled solutions , chlorphenamine (pfQ = 8.99) T, methadone (pfC. = 8.25) x, amfetamine (pfQ = 9.94) , pethidine (pfQ = 8.72) , nicotine (pfC = 8.02). 

This product is also only available by prescription. The recommended treatment period is up to 24 weeks (McNeil Consumer Products 1997). Using the inhaler by puffing 80 deep inhalations over 20 minutes results in a systemic absorption through the buccal mucosa of 2 mg of nicotine, with maximal nicotine concentrations occurring 15 minutes after the end of inhalation. When the product is used as directed, the patient will likely use 6-16 inhalers per day. This form of NRT is relatively contraindicated in patients with asthma because, although most of the nicotine is absorbed through the buccal mucosa and it is not delivered to the lungs (McNeil Consumer Products 1997), nicotine by inhalation may produce bronchial constriction. 

Evered DF, Sadoogh-Abasian F, Patel PD (1980) Absorption of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide across human buccal mucosa in vivo. Life Sci 27 1649-1651... 

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