Nicotine gum is used as a temporary aid to stop smoking. It contains a small dose of nicotine in a safe form that enters into the bloodstream through the mucosal lining of the mouth. It acts in the same way nicotine acts in the brain and helps reduce the cravings and withdrawn symptoms, including irritability and insomnia, when a person adapts to non smoking, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Mouth Ulcers
Extended use of nicotine chewing gum can cause mouth ulcers, clinically known as aphthous stomatitis, notes the Patient UK. Aphthous mouth ulcers are the most common form of ulcer, which can appear anywhere inside the mouth, including the tongue, lips and gingivae or gums. These painful oral lesions are characterized by extreme pain and tend to recur frequently on identical areas within the mouth. Nicotine gum should not be used if it causes mouth ulcers; patients should seek the help of other nicotine replacement therapy medications like nicotine nasal spray and patches.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Gastric complaints are the most common unpleasant effects associated with the chronic use of nicotine gum, according to The American Academy of Family Physicians. Gastrointestinal side effects occur as a result of nicotine overdose in the stomach. Nicotine gum is designed to be parked and chewed intermittently in the buccal area of the oral cavity. An overdose of nicotine is most likely to occur when nicotine gum is swallowed excessively. Chewing the nicotine gum too rapidly can increase the chance of swallowing the gum with saliva. Nicotine gum doesn't stay in the stomach and may cause gastric side effects such as nausea and dyspepsia.
Endocrine Effects
Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are other potential adverse effects of long-term nicotine gum use, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The term hyperinsulinemia refers to a condition in which the plasma insulin concentrations are higher than normal. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help control blood sugar level. There is a pathogenic link between hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body can't utilize insulin properly; as a consequence, the pancreas tends to produce more insulin in order to offset the effects of increasing blood glucose level.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Nicotine Gum
- Patient UK: Aphthous Mouth Ulcers
- The American Academy of Family Physicians: Smoking Cessation: Integration of Behavioral and Drug Therapies
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Long-term use of nicotine gum is associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance
- Mayoclinic.com: Is hyperinsulinemia a form of diabetes?
