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!

[gilliankjs]

I am 48 and have chewed the stuff for over a decade--probably longer. Have often worried about the effects and have deliberately not investigated UNTIL NOW!.. Five years ago I developed a salivary cyst that the doctor assured me was not caused by the gum ~(I have my doubts) but the bigger side effect for me is elevated heart rate and sometimes palpitations....I really noticed this when the exercise class I was taking insisted we all wear a heart rate monitor...and it has been interesting to see that my heart rate is very changeable from class to class and often related to the amount I have been chewing...Has anyone continued to exercise while they chew? I have always been a runner, even when i smoked...and now as a chewer...and doing both is starting to wear me out. So yesterday at 3 I quit and I am going to go cold turkey. Last night was pretty dreadful (restless) and I'm worried I won't be able to work or concentrate and that i'll be a crazy b@@@ but I am fed up with it--the whole messy business of it...and so am setting a goal of daily exercise and tons of running as all that fresh oxygen...well, let's see...suspect i am in the worst and most dangerous section: day 2.

[rosepot]

I have used nicorett since june 1, 1996 and can not quit. I have gum disease from using the gum and have lost teeth because of it. I now have dentures because I used the gum for so long. I am wearing a patch and I search every corner of my house hoping to find a piece of gum. I chewed 30 pieces a day and slept with it in my mouth at night.

[Hypochondria563]

I actually chew nicortte gum to help out my anxiety(OCD comorbid with ADD) I've been chewing two 4mg pieces along with my adderal and wellbutrin. Nicottine actually follows the same neural pathways interms of activating the sypathetic autonomic nervous system for he norepinephrine and dopamine activation, which is what wellbutrin and adderal do. However I do have concernes about losing my teeth, cancer, etc. I have been doing this for about 6 monthes. Never smoked a day in my life but i have my concerns. Have any of you ever had a problemn with tooth loss or anything else. I'm about 25 years old, great diet(no sugar, 50% carbs 30% Protein 20% fat, no dairy , use almond milk and supplements for calcuim, no fruit, tons of vegetables(low glycemic and all raw)  nothing processed or in a package, wieght train and Zumba , 10-12% body fat,) I just want to know if i'm at rick becuase teh nicorette does wonders for my anxiety and i want to keep it that way. Please send me a message if you have information or articles, thank you

[j0vian]

Hi there, been chewing nic gum for at least 7 or more years I lost count a long time ago. I chew half a peice now put still manage to eat 6 pieces a day. My wife complains about the little yellow gum balls that miss the trash can in the bedroom at night. I just heard about this mouth cancer from nic gum thing. I dont have it that I know of just wanted to research it a little. Regardless, these days cancer in blamed on everything from alarm clocks to cell phones. From what I read nic gum is still safer than cigerettes and other nic products. Oh ya, an a tip for you fellow nic gum addicts, I buy it buy the case from ebay , and find it from 5-15 dollars a box at the local flea markets and around 11-16 dollars a box on ebay. I rarely buy the 35-50 dollar boxes from the drug store or walmart. I love my gum and find it to keep my teeth clean from chewing reguarly.

thanks,

j0vian

[teko]

Wow! I quit cold turkey from cigarettes 6 months ago. When deciding to use patches, gum or other aids I am thankful that I decided on cold turkey. It was tough, still is on occasion but I am free of nicotine. I so feel for you guys, it is all about trading one addiction for another isnt it? You are addicted to the very aids you used to get off of the smoking but still need the nicotine. Me, well lets just say that my current battle is the weight gain from trying to replace the hand/mouth fixation. Im starting Atkins soon and have taken up chewing sugarless gum to keep my mouth full and not stick food in it. lol

[crazyaussiekat]

30 pieces of gum, 15 lozenges, 10 microtabs PER DAY = my addiction for 15 months.  

I don't know if it was related but I had inflamation of the kidneys 10 months into my nic addiction.  I used patches and extra gum to ween myself off nic products.  My kidneys are now fine-- interesting.  I'm off the patches but now a extra addict-- at least it is a lot cheaper than nicorette!