Nicotine Polacrilex: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Nicotine Polacrilex is a medicine sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for ulcerative colitis and tobacco use disorder. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Treats (across its forms)
- Ulcerative Colitis and Tobacco Use Disorder
- Available as
- Lozenge · Gum · Chewing
- Sold as
- 3 products — Nicorette, Nicorette (Mint) and Nicotine Polacrilex
- Prescription?
- Over the counter
- Generic available?
- Yes
How Nicorette is dosed
From the FDA label for Nicorette (application NDA018612). Other nicotine polacrilex products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Directions (2 mg) if you are under 18 years of age, ask a doctor before use before using this product, read the enclosed User’s Guide for complete directions and other important information begin using the gum on your quit day if you smoke your first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up, use 4 mg nicotine gum if you smoke your first cigarette more than 30 minutes after waking up, use 2 mg nicotine gum according to the following 12 week schedule: Weeks 1 to 6 Weeks 7 to 9 Weeks 10 to 12 1 piece every 1 to 2 hours 1 piece every 2 to 4 hours 1 piece every 4 to 8 hours nicotine gum is a medicine and must be used a certain way to get the best results chew the gum slowly until it tingles. Then park it between your cheek and gum. When the tingle is gone, begin chewing again, until the tingle returns. repeat this process until most of the tingle is gone (about 30 minutes) do not eat or drink for 15 minutes before chewing the nicotine gum, or while chewing a piece to improve your chances of quitting, use at least 9 pieces per day for the first 6 weeks if you experience strong or frequent cravings, you may use a second piece within the hour. However, do not continuously use one piece after another since this may cause you hiccups, heartburn, nausea or other side effects. do not use more than 24 pieces a day it is important to complete treatment. If you feel you need to use the gum…
Every nicotine polacrilex product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Lozenge | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Over-the-counter | Gum | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Over-the-counter | Gum | No data | — | View → |
What nicotine polacrilex pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L344 | 2 mg | white | round | — |
Can you crush or split nicotine polacrilex?
At least one nicotine polacrilexproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each nicotine polacrilex label says about crushing, splitting and chewingWhat people report to the FDA about nicotine polacrilex
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 6,644 reports naming nicotine polacrilex, and the FDA flagged 17% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- nausea749 reports
- nicotine dependence745 reports
- macular degeneration564 reports
- intentional drug misuse438 reports
- oral discomfort348 reports
- dyspepsia329 reports
- malaise308 reports
- drug administration error289 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean nicotine polacrilex caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Nicorette?
Use reduces withdrawal symptoms, including nicotine craving, associated with quitting smoking
Can you take nicotine polacrilex with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run nicotine polacrilex against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is nicotine polacrilex sold under?
We track 3 nicotine polacrilex-containing products in the U.S.: Nicorette, Nicorette (Mint) and Nicotine Polacrilex. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does nicotine polacrilex come in?
Across the brands we track, nicotine polacrilex is currently marketed as lozenge, gum and chewing, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic nicotine polacrilex?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic nicotine polacrilex product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Nicotine Polacrilex: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/nicotine-polacrilex
- MLA
- “Nicotine Polacrilex: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/nicotine-polacrilex.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for nicotine polacrilex on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.