Nicotine chewing gum

Parrott AC and Winder G (1989). Nicotine chewing gum (2mg, 4mg) and cigarette smoking Comparative effects upon vigilance and heart rate. Psychopharmacology, 97, 257-261. 

Pickworth WB, Herning RI, Henningfieid JE. (1986). Eiectroencephaiographic effects of nicotine chewing gum in humans. Pharmacol Blochem Behav. 25(4) 879-82. 

Houtsmuller EJ, Pant RV, Eissenberg TE, Henningfleld JE, Stitzer ML (2002) Flavor improvement does not increase abuse liability of nicotine chewing gum, Pharmacol Biochem Behav 72 559-568... 

In nicotine replacement therapy, the chewing gum releases nicotine, which is absorbed through the buccal mucosa every time a piece of chewing gum is chewed. The chewing gum is chewed for 30 minutes, only when one feels the urge to smoke. The transdermal patch provides a residual nicotine level throughout the application. A side-effect of nicotine chewing gum may be aphthous ulcers. 

Nicotine is used in many products on the pharmaceutical market, for example Nicorette or Nicoderm. At least 20 different products are known to contain nicotine. These drugs are delivered in different forms. One of these is a transdermal plaster. Nicotine chewing gum and tablets are also available. These drugs are used especially to reduce nicotine cravings. 

Michel, C. et al., Cardiovascular, electrocortical, and behavioral effects of nicotine chewing gum, Klin. Wochenschr., 66 (Suppl. 11), 72, 1988. 

In this account nicotine is represented as being the major (but not the sole) determinant of tobacco dependence after the smoker has adapted to the usual initial unpleasant effects. But there remains some uncertainty as to its role, e.g. nicotine i.v. fails adequately to substitute the effects of smoking. An understanding of the full function of nicotine is important if less harmful alternatives to smoking, such as nicotine chewing gum, are to be exploited. 

In a meta-analysis of 42 nicotine chewing gum studies and nine patch studies, comprising 17 000 subjects, the odds ratios of long-term success were 1.61 for gum and 2.07 for patch compared with placebo (1). However, effective use of nicotine gum requires careful instructions. Transdermal uptake of nicotine from patches is about 1 mg/hour (2). Large multicenter studies using 16-hour... 

Sallsten G Thoren J Barregard L et al. 1996. Long-term use of nicotine chewing gum and mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings. J Dent Res 75(l) 594-8. 

To which of the following could nicotine chewing gum be supplied without prescription ... 

Zander, A. Findlay, P. Renner, T. Sellergren, B. Swietlow, A. Analysis of nicotine and its oxidation products in nicotine chewing gum by a molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction. Anal. Chem. 1998, 70, 3304-3314. 

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