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More about Smoking-Cessation Drugs:
Definition Purpose Recommended dosage Precautions Side effects Interactions Resources |
Seeing a physician regularly while using smoking cessation drugs is important. The physician will check to make sure the medicine is working as it should and will watch for unwanted side effects.
Nicotine by itself is a poisonous substance. Do not smoke during treatment with smoking cessation drugs that contain nicotine, as the combination could lead to nicotine overdose. For the same reason, do not use more than one type of smoking cessation product at a time, and never use more than the recommended amount of medicine. Signs of nicotine overdose include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- severe pain in the stomach or abdomen
- severe diarrhea
- severe dizziness
- fainting
- convulsions (seizures)
- low blood pressure
- fast, weak, or irregular heartbeat
- hearing or vision problems
- severe breathing problems
- severe watering of the mouth or drooling
- cold sweat
- severe headache
- confusion
- severe weakness
Keep these drugs, including thrown-away patches and gum—out of the reach of children and pets. Even a small amount of nicotine can seriously harm a child or animal.
Nicotine in any form should not be used during pregnancy, as it may harm the fetus or cause miscarriage. Women who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking smoking cessation drugs. Women who become pregnant while taking this medicine should stop taking it immediately and check with their physicians.
Nicotine passes into breast milk and may cause problems for nursing babies. Women who are breastfeeding and want to use smoking cessation drugs may need to stop breastfeeding during treatment.
Anyone who has had unusual reactions to nicotine in the past should let his or her physician know before using a smoking cessation drug. The physician should also be told about any allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances. People who have had a rash or irritation from adhesive bandages should check with a physician before using a nicotine patch.
Smoking cessation patches, gum, and other products may make certain medical problems worse. Before using a smoking cessation drug, people with any of these medical problems should make sure their physicians are aware of their conditions:
- heart or blood vessel disease
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- overactive thyroid
- skin rash or irritation
- stomach ulcer
- pheochromocytoma (pcc) (a tumor of the adrenal medulla)
- dental problems or mouth sores
- sore throat
- jaw pain or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
There are also precautions to take with bupropion and buspirone. Bupropion should not be taken by patients with a history of seizures, high blood pressure, anorexia, or bulimia nervosa. People taking buspirone should be careful about driving or operating heavy machinery until they can tell whether the drug makes them drowsy as a side effect. Although buspirone does not interact with alcohol as intensely as most tranquilizers do, patients should still use alcohol cautiously if they are taking buspirone.
— Rebecca J. Frey, PhD
