Niquitin Mint
summary of the product characteristics
Name of the Medicinal Product
NiQuitin Mint 4 mg lozenge
Qualitative and Quantitative Composition
Each lozenge contains 4 mg nicotine (as nicotine resinate).
Excipients with known effect (per lozenge):
Aspartame (E951) 6 mg
Mannitol (E421) 1027 mg
Sodium 17 mg
Mint flavour (contains lactose (2,9 mg) and soya protein (8,8 mg)) 61,2 mg
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1
Pharmaceutical Form
Lozenge
White, round lozenge with convex surfaces, debossed NL4S on one side.
Clinical Particulars
Therapeutic indications
NiQuitin Mint is indicated for the relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. If possible, when stopping smoking, NiQuitin Mint should be used in conjunction with a behavioural support programme.
Posology and method of administration
Adults (including the elderly):
NiQuitin Mint Lozenges 4 mg are suitable for smokers with high nicotine dependency e.g. those smoking their first cigarette of the day within 30 minutes of waking up.
Users should stop smoking completely during treatment with NiQuitin Mint Lozenges.
Users should follow the schedule of treatment below:
Step 1 |
Step 2 |
Step 3 Weeks 10 to 12 |
|
Initial treatment period |
Step down treatment period |
Step down treatment period |
|
1 lozenge every 1 to 2 hours |
1 lozenge every 2 to 4 hours |
1 lozenge every 4 to 8 hours |
During weeks 1 to 6 it is recommended that users take a minimum of 9 lozenges per day.
Users should not exceed 15 lozenges per day.
Lozenges should not be used for more than 24 weeks (6 months). If users still feel the need for treatment, a physician should be consulted.
Directions for Use:
One lozenge should be placed in the mouth and allowed to dissolve. Periodically, the lozenge should be moved from one side of the mouth to the other, and repeated, until the lozenge is completely dissolved (approximately 20 – 30 minutes). The lozenge should not be chewed or swallowed whole.
Users should not eat or drink while a lozenge is in the mouth. Liquiids which lowers the pH in the mouth such as coffee, juice and soft drinks, can decrease the absorption of nicotine in the mouth. To obtain maximum absorption of nicotine these liquids should be avoided in up to 15 minutes before the lozenge is used.
Children and adolescents
NiQuitin Mint is not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age due to lack of data on safety and efficacy.
NiQuitin Mint Lozenges should only be used in adolescents (12-17 years) with advice from a doctor.
Contraindications
NiQuitin Mint Lozenges are contraindicated in:
-
those with hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients;
-
people with hypersensitivity to peanut or soya;
-
children and non-smokers;
-
those with phenylketonuria;
-
those with unstable or worsening angina pectoris, Prinzmetals angina or severe cardiac arrhythmias;
-
those who have recently suffered myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident.
Special warnings and special precautions for use
NiQuitin Mint should only be used after advice from a doctor in subjects with:
-
uncontrolled hypertension;
-
active peptic ulcers, or severe renal or hepatic impairment;
-
pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism or insulin-dependent diabetes;
-
cardiovascular disease (e.g. stable angina pectoris, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, vasospastic diseases, severe peripheral vascular disease).
Swallowing nicotine may exacerbate symptoms in persons suffering from active oesophagitis, oral or pharyngeal inflammation or gastritis.
NiQuitin Mint Lozenges are sugar free, but do contain aspartame which metabolises to phenylalanine, which is of relevance for those with phenylketonuria.
Sodium content: Each NiQuitin Mint Lozenge contains 17 mg of sodium. People on a low sodium diet should take this into account.
Lactose content: Consumers with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take NiQuitin Mint Lozenge.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Smoking cessation, with or without nicotine substitutes, may alter the response to concomitant medication in ex-smokers. The following drugs may require adjustment in dose at cessation of smoking:
May require a decrease in dose at cessation of smoking |
Possible mechanism of action |
Caffeine, theophylline, imipramine, pentazocine, phenacetin, phenylbutazone, tacrine, clomipramine. |
Reduced induction of CYP1A2 |
Insulin |
Increase in sub-cutaneous insulin absorption |
Adrenergic antagonists e.g. prazosin, propranolol. |
Decreases circulating catecholamines |
May require an increase in dose at cessation of smoking |
Possible mechanism of action |
Adrenergic agonists e.g. isoprenaline, salbutamol |
Decreases in circulating catecholamines |
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Nicotine passes into the foetus and affects the breathing pattern
and circulation of the foetus. The effect on the circulation of the
foetus is dose-dependent. Pregnant smokers should therefore always
be recommended to stop smoking without nicotine replacement
therapy. The risk of continuous smoking may pose a greater risk for
the foetus than the use of nicotine replacement therapy and medical
assessment of the risk/benefit ratio of the use of NiQuitin Mint
should be made. NiQuitin Mint lozenge should not be used except by
pregnant women with high nicotine dependence on doctors advice.
Lactation
Nursing women should avoid the use of NiQuitin Mint Lozenges. Nicotine passes into breast milk. Patients should be advised to try to give up smoking without the use of nicotine replacement therapy, but should this fail, a medical assessment of the risk/benefit ratio of the use of NiQuitin Mint should be made.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines
NiQuitin Mint has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Undesirable effects
NiQuitin Mint Lozenges 4 mg can cause adverse reactions similar to those associated with nicotine administered in other ways. These may be attributed to the pharmacological effects of nicotine, which are dose dependent.
Immune system disorders:
Very rare (>1/10,000): Anaphylactic reactions
Nervous system disorders:
Common (≥1/100, <1/10): Headache.
Respiratory, thoracic and medistinal disorders:
Common (≥1/100, <1/10): Pharyngolaryngeal pain.
Uncommon (≥1/1000, <1/100): Dyspnoea.
Gastrointestinal disorders:
Very common (≥1/10): Hiccups.
Common (≥1/100, <1/10): Nausea, dyspepsia, stomatitis and flatulence.
Uncommon (≥1/1000, <1/100): Vomiting, dysphagia, diarrhoea and eruction.
Psychiatric disorders:
Uncommon (≥1/1000, </100): Insomnia.
Certain symptoms which have been reported such as depression, irritability, anxiety and insomnia may be related to withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation. Subjects quitting smoking by any means could expect to suffer from headache, dizziness, increased coughing or a cold.
Overdose
Even small quantities of nicotine may be dangerous in children. If poisoning is suspected in a child, a doctor must be consulted immediately.
Overdose with NiQuitin Mint Lozenges may occur if too many lozenges are ingested.
Signs and symptoms of an overdose would be expected to be the same as those of acute nicotine poisoning, including pallor, cold sweat, nausea, salivation, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, disturbed hearing and vision, tremor, mental confusion and weakness.
Prostration, hypotension, respiratory failure and convulsions may ensue with large overdoses. Lethal doses produce convulsions quickly and death follows as a result of peripheral and central respiratory paralysis or, less frequently, cardiac failure.
Treatment of overdose:
In the event of overdosage, vomiting should be induced with syrup of ipecac or gastric lavage carried out (wide bore tube). A suspension of activated charcoal should then be passed through the tube and left in the stomach. Artificial respiration with oxygen should be instituted if needed and continued for as long as necessary. Other therapy, including treatment of shock, is purely symptomatic.
Pharmacological Properties
Pharmacodynamic properties
Smoking cessation: N07BA, nicotine 01
ATC Code: N07B A01
Nicotine, the main alkaloid in tobacco products and a naturally occurring autonomic substance , is an agonist at nicotine receptors in the peripheral and central nervous system and has pronounced CNS and cardiovascular effects. When consumed in tobacco products, it has been shown to be addictive and upon cessation craving and withdrawal symptoms occur. These craving and withdrawal symptoms include urge to smoke, depressed mood, insomnia, irritability, frustration or anger, anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, restlessness and increased appetite or weight gain. The lozenges replace some of the nicotine provided by tobacco and help reduce the severity of these nicotine craving and withdrawal symptoms.
Six week smoking cessation rates for Nicotine Mint Lozenge 4 mg were 48.7% and 20.8% in active and placebo groups respectively. Rates at six months were 23.6% and 10.2 % in active and placebo groups respectively. Odds ratios, adjusted for centre effects, at six weeks and six months were calculated as 3.69 and 2.76 respectively.
Pharmacokinetic properties
Absorption
NiQuitin Mint
Lozenges dissolve completely in the oral cavity, and the entire
amount of nicotine contained in the lozenge becomes available for
buccal absorption or ingestion (swallowing). Complete dissolution
of NiQuitin Mint Lozenges is typically achieved in 20-30 minutes.
Concurrent consumption of liquids which lower pH in the mouth, such
as coffee, juice and carbonated drinks, can drastically reduce the
absorption of nicotine. The peak plasma concentration of nicotine
achieved after single dose is approximately 10.8 ng/ml. When dosed
every 1.5 hours, the steady state peak and trough concentrations
are 26.0 and 19.7 ng/ml respectively. Ingestion of NiQuitin
Mint Lozenges not following dosing instruction (chewed, retained in
the mouth and swallowed; chewed and immediately swallowed) gives a
slower and a somewhat reduced absorption of nicotine.
Distribution
As the plasma
protein binding of nicotine is low (4.9% - 20%), the volume of
distribution of nicotine is large (2.5 l/kg). The distribution of
nicotine to tissue is pH dependent, with the highest concentrations
of nicotine found in the brain, stomach, kidney and liver.
Metabolism
Nicotine is
extensively metabolized to a number of metabolites, all of which
are less active than the parent compound. The metabolism of
nicotine primarily occurs in the liver, but also in the lung and
kidney. Nicotine is metabolized primarily to cotinine but is also
metabolized to nicotine N-oxide. Cotinine
has a half-life of 15-20 hours and its blood levels are 10 times
higher than for nicotine. Cotinine is further oxidized to
trans-3-hydroxycotinine, which is
the most abundant metabolite of nicotine in the urine. Both
nicotine and cotinine undergo glucuronidation.
Elimination
The elimination
half-life of nicotine is approximately 2 hours (range 1 - 4 hours).
Total clearance for nicotine ranges from approximately 62 to 89
l/hr. Non-renal clearance for nicotine is estimated to be about 75%
of total clearance. Nicotine and its metabolites are excreted
almost exclusively in the urine. The renal excretion of unchanged
nicotine is highly dependent on urinary pH, with greater excretion
occurring at acidic pH.
Preclinical safety data
The general toxicity of nicotine is well documented. Nicotine was not mutagenic or carciogenic in conventional assays. In studies in pregnant animals, at exposure levels resulting in maternal toxicity (in excess of those that will be obtained with the recommended use of NiQuitin Mint), a mild foetal toxicity was seen. Other effects included pre- and postnatal growth retardation and delays and changes in postnatal CNS development. Effects on fertility have not been established.
Pharmaceutical Particulars
List of excipients
Mannitol (E421)
Sodium alginate
Xanthan gum
Potassium hydrogen carbonate
Calcium polycarbophil
Sodium carbonate anhydrous
Aspartame (E951)
Magnesium stearate
Mint flavour powder 57581 (contains lactose and soya protein)
Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
Shelf‑life
Blister packs: 18 months
Polypropylene container: 2 years
Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
Nature and content of container
Clear or opaque Polyvinyl Chloride/Polyethylene/Polyvinylidene Chloride blisters in packs of 12, 36 and 72, or a Polypropylene tablet container with cap containing 24 lozenges, in packs of 24, 48 and 72. The outer layer of the container and the cap are composed of Polypropylene and a colour, the desiccant lining is composed of Polyethylene Glycol and Molecular Sieve.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Special precautions for disposal and other handling
No special requirements.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare A/S
Nykær 68
2605 Brøndby
Denmark
Marketing Authorisation Number(s)
17138
Date of First Authorisation/Renewal of the Authorisation
2002-11-01/2007-11-01
Date of Revision of the Text
2014-02-19