How to take it

the gum

The method of chewing Boots NicAssist Fruit Fresh Gum is not the same as for ordinary chewing gum. If the gum is chewed all the time (continuously), the nicotine is released too quickly and is swallowed. This may irritate your throat, upset your stomach or give you hiccups. The gum should be chewed and then rested to release the nicotine, which is taken in through the lining of the mouth. If you have false teeth you may have difficulty chewing the gum as it may stick to them, and on rare occasions, damage dentures. If you experience a problem, other types of nicotine replacement therapy such as skin patches, inhalator, lozenges or microtabs may be more suitable for you.

Chewing technique

1 Chew slowly until taste becomes strong 2 Rest the gum between your gums and cheek 3 For about the next half an hour, when the taste fades, chew the gum again. After this time the gum will have lost its strength and you should dispose of it carefully If you use too many gums: You may get the following – nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, increased salivation, pain in your stomach, diarrhoea, sweating, headache, dizziness, hearing disturbance, weakness. If this happens stop using the gums and do not smoke/vape. Contact a doctor or hospital casualty department straight away. Take the medicine and this leaflet with you. If a child under 12 accidentally uses, swallows, sucks or chews some of this medicine take them to casualty immediately. Take the medicine and this leaflet with you. Nicotine ingestion by a child may cause severe poisoning.

Possible side effects

Most people can use this medicine without any problems but sometimes you may notice some side effects. Many of these effects are due to nicotine, they may also happen when you smoke/vape. If you notice any of the following serious side effects, stop using the medicine, do not smoke/vape and see your doctor as soon as possible:

• You develop a fast, slow or irregular heart beat
• You have an allergic reaction to the gum such as rash, itching or swelling of the tongue, mouth or throat (go straight to casualty if severe)
• You experience seizures (fits) Effects related to stopping smoking/vaping (nicotine withdrawal) You may experience unwanted effects because by stopping smoking/vaping or using the gums when you are unable to smoke/vape you have reduced the amount of nicotine you are getting. You may also experience these effects if you use too few gums before you are ready to reduce your nicotine intake. These effects include:
• Irritability or aggression, feeling low, anxiety, restlessness
• Poor concentration, urges to smoke (craving), night time awakening or sleep disturbance
• Increased appetite or weight gain
• Lowering of heart rate
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, blurry vision, nausea
• Cough
• Constipation
• Bleeding gums
• Mouth ulcers
• Swelling of the nasal passages and back of the throat

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed on this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Possible side effects

with an unknown frequency:

• Severe allergic reaction
• Blurred vision, watery eyes
• Dry throat, stomach discomfort, lip pain
• Tightness of the jaw
• Redness of the skin
• A fast and irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) When you stop smoking you may also develop mouth ulcers. The reason why this happens is unknown.

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number of gums they use each day.

• Boots NicAssist Fruit Fresh Gum should be used whenever the urge to smoke/vape is felt or when you would normally expect to have cravings to smoke/vape
• It is recommended that to successfully reduce the amount of cigarettes/e-cigarettes you smoke/vape or stop smoking/vaping completely you should use the gums as often as possible and it is up to you how many gums you use (up to 15 a day) and for how long
• If you are ready to stop smoking/vaping completely, you should use the gums, when needed, to replace all of your cigarettes/e-cigarettes. As soon as you feel ready (this could be after a number of weeks or months) you should reduce the strength, if required, and number of gums used per day until you no longer need to use the gums
• If you are not ready to stop smoking/vaping completely, you should replace as many cigarettes/e-cigarettes as possible with the gums. Boots NicAssist Fruit Fresh Gum provides a safer alternative to smoking tobacco for you and those around you, as it is the toxins in cigarette smoke that cause harm, not the nicotine. The effects of vaping on your body are not established.
• Reducing the amount of cigarettes/e-cigarettes you smoke/vape may also help you to become more motivated to stop smoking/vaping. As soon as you feel ready, you should aim to stop smoking/vaping completely
• You can also use the gums when you can't or don't want to smoke/vape, such as social occasions e.g. at a party, in the pub, or for when you are at work, or on a plane or train etc. When making an attempt to stop smoking/vaping completely behavioural therapy, advice and support will normally improve the success rate.

How to store it

and dispose of this medicine

Do not store above 25oC. Keep this medicine in a safe place out of the sight and reach of children and animals, preferably in a locked cupboard. Nicotine in high amounts can be very dangerous and sometimes fatal if used or swallowed by children. Store the gum in the original pack. Use by the date on the foil or the end flap of the carton. After this date return any unused product to your nearest pharmacy for safe disposal. Dispose of any used gum sensibly and away from children and animals.

What is in this medicine

This pack contains 105 pieces of medicated chewing gum in blister strips of 15's. Each gum contains nicotine 2 mg or nicotine 4 mg, which is the active ingredient. As well as the active ingredient, the gum also contains chewing gum base (containing butylated hydroxytoluene E321), xylitol, peppermint oil, sodium carbonate, acesulfame potassium, levomenthol, magnesium oxide, talc, flavour (tuttifrutti), hypromellose, sucralose, polysorbate 80, purified water, acacia, titanium dioxide (E171), carnauba wax. The 2 mg gum also contains sodium bicarbonate. The 4 mg gum also contains quinoline yellow (E104). The gum does not contain sugar (sucrose) or animal products.

Who makes this medicine

This product is manufactured for The Boots Company PLC, Nottingham, NG2 3AA by McNeil AB, Helsingborg, Sweden. The Marketing Authorisation holder is McNeil Products Limited, 1 Station Hill Square, Station Hill, Reading, RG1 1LN, UK This leaflet was last revised March 2026 If you would like any further information about this product, please contact The Boots Company PLC, Nottingham, NG2 3AA.

Other formats

To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge: 0800 198 5000 (UK only) Please be ready to give the following information: Product name Reference Number Boots NicAssist Fruit Fresh 2 mg Gum 15513/0136 Boots NicAssist Fruit Fresh 4 mg Gum 15513/0137 This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

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Adults and children of 12 years and over

Effects of too much nicotine You may also get these effects if you are not used to inhaling tobacco smoke or vaping. You may be able to relieve these effects by using the gums less often. These effects include:

• Feeling faint, feeling sick (nausea), headache
• Hiccupping (due to swallowing too much nicotine when you chew) Side effects of the gum Very common side effects: (more than 1 in every 10 people are affected)
• Headache
• Sore mouth or throat, throat irritation
• Feeling sick, hiccups Common side effects: (less than 1 in every 10 people are affected)
• Allergic reactions
• Dizziness, taste changes, pins and needles
• Cough
• Stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhoea, wind
• Dry mouth, being sick, inflammation of the mouth, increase in saliva
• Burning sensation in the mouth, feeling tired Uncommon side effects: (less than 1 in every 100 people are affected)
• Abnormal dreams
• Changes in heart rhythm (you may notice a fast heart rate or beat)
• Flushing, high blood pressure
• Throat tightness, difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, hoarseness of the voice
• Nasal congestion, sneezing
• Belching, inflammation of the tongue, mouth ulcers, tingling mouth
• Itching, skin rash, hives, excess sweating
• Jaw pain
• Generally feeling unwell or weak, chest pains Rare side effects: (less than 1 in every 1,000 people are affected)
• Swelling of the mouth, lips, throat and tongue, itching of the skin, swelling of the skin, ulceration and swelling of the lining of the mouth (allergic reactions)
• Difficulty swallowing, retching, mouth feeling numb Very rare side effects: (less than 1 in 10,000 people are affected)
• Abnormal beating of the heart