Watsons Health

NICOTINE

Nicotine is a substance found in cigarettes and is known as a pyridine alkaloid. It binds to nicotine and cholinergic receptors in the brain and nerves, and stimulates autonomic ganglia, adrenal medulla, neuromuscular junction, and brain. When consumed in high doses, it can inhibit nerve transmission and depress the activities of receptors.

Nicotine is the substance that makes it hard for smokers to quit cigarettes. It is often available as a chewing gum, as a nasal solution, a cartridge, a sublingual tablet and a transdermal patch.

Nicotine is used in the treatment of the following:

  • As a smoking cessation aid

Do not give Nicotine in people with the following conditions:

  • Recent cerebrovascular accidentor stroke
  • Patients who will continue to smoke, chew tobacco, or use snuff or other nicotine-containing preparations
  • Non-smokers and occasional smokers

Nicotine may have the following side effects:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Hiccups
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Palpitations
  • Insomnia
  • Vivid dreams
  • Myalgia
  • Chest pain
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Somnolence
  • Dysmenorrhoea
  • Mouth (e.g. aphthous ulceration) and throat irritation
  • Nasal irritation
  • Epistaxis
  • Lacrimation
  • Salivation
  • Swelling of the tongue (gum)
  • Unpleasant taste (lozenges)
  • Cough
  • Rhinitis
  • Stomatitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Dry mouth (inhalator)
  • Ear sensations (nasal spray)
  • Skin reactions (patch)

Precautions

Take extra caution in patients with the following medical conditions:

  • Heart disease
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Endocrine disorder (e.g. pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism, diabetes)
  • Peptic ulcer
  • Skin disease (patch)
  • Liver and kidney impairment
  • Children
  • Pregnancy and Lactation

 

Interactions

Nicotine may interact with the following medicines:

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

  • Burning of the mouth and throat
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Salivation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhoea
  • Sweating
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Hearing and visual disturbances
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Syncope
  • Prostration
  • Dyspnea
  • Tachycardia
  • Hypotension
  • Rapid or weak or irregular pulse
  • Seizure
  • Respiratoryfailure
  • Circulatory collapse
  • Coma
  • Seek medical help immediately.

 

Available Brands:

  • Nosmok
  • Nicorette
  • Nicotinell

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