As nicotine addiction is strong and difficult to break people began to seek for ways to lighten the procedure of quitting smoking. As a rule there were attempts to solve physiological aspect of smoking by delivery of nicotine into body by some unusual way. The final result should be absolutely rejection of this harmful habit after step-by-step reduction of nicotine consumption.

Nicotine gums of popular brands Nicorette, Commit, NicoDerm, Nicotrol or Nicotinell are polacrilex gums which contain enough nicotine to reduce the urge to smoke. Depending on the amount of nicotine that should be replaced, gums may contain different dose of nicotine. Usually it's 2 or 4 mg in each piece. Maximum dose is 24 pieces / day. By the way the cost of this over-the-counter medicine is approximately $5/day.

Although among all forms of nicotine replacement therapy (inhalers, nasal sprays, gums, patches and pills) gums seems to be the simplest and the most popular mean, there are numerous instructions concerning its use.

The most important of all the treatment is correct chewing by a strict rule "chew and park": chew few times until feel a pepper taste and place the gum between cheek and the gum. Nicotine from the gum will get into the bloodstream by absorption into the blood vessels under the lining of oral cavity. Usual chewing without parking leads to nicotine release to saliva, which is swallowing, and harms the stomach.

For better result it's desirable to follow also other instructions:

1. Don’t eat or drink for 15 min before using or while chewing the gum 2. Chew nearly 30 min (the time needed for nicotine to release from the gum) 3. Use enough pieces a day to reduce withdrawal symptoms 4. Use each day for month or so than start to reduce the number of pieces/day 5. Discontinue use of gum after 3 months

Use of nicotine gums may produce hiccups, nausea, upset stomach, sweating, muscle pain, diarrhea, sore jaws, bleeding gums, mouth sores, and injury of teeth or cheeks.

Among benefits of nicotine gums are: comparably high speed of nicotine delivery, simplicity in use, availability of different strengths and flavors of the gums.

The gum just raises the level of nicotine in blood and helps with physical aspect of smoking. So this form of nicotine replacement therapy should be used in conjunction with the behavior change program. It’s also not suitable for people who don’t like chewing gums or wear dentures.