nicorette gum

[Barb]

What are the long-term risks of continuing to chew nicorette gum for years?  I chew maybe one or 2 pieces a day.  I quit smoking 8 years ago and I realize I am addicted to the nicotine in the gum.  This is all right with me, but is it possible it can cause cancer of the mouth like chewing tobacco can?  I asked the nicorette people at their 800 number, and they said it couldn't give you cancer, but they sternly advised me to stop chewing it, that I was addicted to it now instead of cigarettes.  

Many thanks - this is a great idea for a website!

[ChrisP6878]

Have signifcantly reduced my use of 2MG gum. No pieces yesterday. Only 2 the day before. I like the "zing/rush" the gum gives me. I can focus and my hunger is held at bay. But...I know that chewing this stuff for a long period of time is probably not healthy. I'm trying to stop because it affected my stomach and the way my body processed food. Too many pieces would give me diarrhea, One morning I had abourt 10 pieces! This habit is getting out-of-control. I'm feeling better, but stil have cravings-I'm addicted to the gum but have to give it up. I feel like it is ruining my stomach lining and or intestines. I was relieved to read that  I wasn't the only one who stashed "wads" and tried to hide the habit.

[primrosehillchewer]

Hi,
I have been off nicorette gum for a week now.
I was on about 8 2mg pieces a day for about 2 years. Sometimes I was using them just because I felt like gum and happened to have it around! Usually though I liked the slight rush it gave me as well as the flavour. I would be alternating between coffee and the gum all day at work.
I think it may have contributed to anxiety during the day and difficulty sleeping at night. It got quite embarrassing keeping reaching into my bag to get gum throughout the day next to my work colleagues and also when I was out with someone who asked for a gum but I couldn't give them one!

Anyway I think the sleeping is a bit better. I do feel like some gum but it is out of the house. I actually smoked in the last couple of days of my chewing whilst I had a cold. A final blast. It made me feel awful and then I ran out of the gum so I decided enough was enough.  

Anyway - just have to take it in short intervals at the moment. I know I don't need to have one tonight before I sleep and that's good enough for me. I do recommend stopping if you happen to be ill!

[sookie438]

Now THAT'S funny! I thought I was the only old lady gum addict out there-guess not. Quit a week ago and am not enjoying it.  I know the nicotine is out of my system, but you couldn't tell by my crabbiness and lethargy. I DO feel cleaner and healthier already, though.

[ZaChewer]

I have been chewing over 20 pieces of 4 mil gum for over 8 years. I do it 2 at a time (8 mils a whack) to get the feeling of that "rush" of a cigarette use to give. Niccorette is for the most part horrible stuff that gives me indigestion and leaves an acidy taste in my mouth. Thrive "Fruit Explosion" rules the day. I think it is much better than smoking, however it seems that it is FAR more likely you will reach for the gum every hour than going for a smelly socially unacceptable smoke. This is the reason for abuse. The nic companies advice strongly on their literature in their packaging not to use over long periods and not to exceed the dosage, but hell, from the pharmacists to the dentists, all professionals seem to say the long term use its better than smoking. I'm a bit suspicious. How can it be healthy to chew petrochemicals all day??? There needs to be more research and epidemiological studies on this. I'm starting to rant and I'm off on a tangent here, but to Jana 5's question about getting off the gum...besides cold turkey, a doctor once told me that I should go to the patch to get a baseline of nicoteen to reduce then eventually stop the chew habit. It worked at the time quite well, and I am shortly going back to this, combined with eating the less preferable chalky lozenges.  Good luck. ZaChewer.

[zoelouise180]

dont quit now, it wont be long before the addiction passes a week at the most! just get through that and you will be fine, i have been addicted for 6 years to the 2mg gum about 20pcs a day. have been fooling myself that they are harmless because ever since i quit smoking i have been ill all the time! i have had no nicotine for 48hrs now the nights are bad (sweats, restless, insomnia, fear) but i am determined that nicotine is not going to rule my life anymore!! its just stupid because surely after 13years of smoking i gave that up then the gum should be a piece of cake in comparison! good luck to all in the process of quitting, we can do it! :)

[gilliankjs]

Feel myself weakening....longing for a piece.