# Why does my nicotine gum give me such terrible hiccups? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366 "2007-04-09T20:28:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/1 "2007-04-09T20:28:31Z")
I’ve recently tried to quit smoking for the umpteenth time (10 days clean, recognise!) and, to combat the withdrawal symptoms, I’ve been taking extra-strength nicotine gum. It’s working pretty well and I haven’t really felt the need for a cigarette since I decided to quit, but every time I have a bit of gum I get really strong hiccups. I checked the directions that come with the packet and they don’t say anything about hiccups. I was wondering why nicotine gum causes hiccups and also if any other ex-smokers have had this experience? ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/2 "2007-04-09T23:07:58Z")
I think the hiccups are caused by an overdose of nicotine. When I tried nicotine gum, I would chew for a minute and then park it in my cheek and then a little later, I’d chew on it for a few seconds and park it again. Whenever I would chomp on it for several minutes at a time, I’d get the hiccups. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/3 "2007-04-09T23:13:04Z")
Here’s some more info: From [drugs.com](http://www.drugs.com/nicotine.html) ``` *Each piece of gum should be chewed slowly and several times. Stop chewing when you notice a tingling sensation or a peppery taste in your mouth (usually after about 15 chews). "Park" the gum between your cheek and gum and leave it there until the taste or tinging sensation is almost gone. Then slowly chew a few more times until the taste or sensation returns. Park the gum again in a different place in your mouth. Continue this chewing and parking process until the taste or tingle no longer returns when the gum is chewed, usually 30 minutes. · Chewing too much or too quickly will cause too much nicotine to be released and can cause nausea, hiccups, and stomach problems. · Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes before chewing nicotine gum or while you are chewing the gum. · Do not chew more of the gum than is directed in the package directions.* ``` They describe overdose as: _Symptoms of a nicotine overdose include nausea; vomiting; watering mouth; diarrhea; abdominal pain; cold sweat; headache; dizziness; disturbed hearing and vision; confusion; weakness; weak, irregular heartbeats; chest pain; seizures; and death._ So I guess the hiccups are just from getting more nicotine than you’d get from…say…chain-smoking 5 cigarettes. Either that or you’re about to die. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/4 "2007-04-10T05:23:51Z")
I _seem to recall_ that there are 4mg of nicotine/cigarette, so chewing a piece of 4mg gum shouldn’t constitute an overdose of nicotine. But yes, when I was using the gum I’d get hiccups if I chewed it too fast. Congrats on the ten days! ---
**Author:** ![Kitchen\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kitchen\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitchen_Wench)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/5 "2007-04-10T10:16:27Z")
I’ve never tried the gum, but I get hiccups often enough to actively seek a remedy rather than ride them out. I have found that taking a swig of vinegar kills hiccups instantly. No joke. Of course you probably wouldn’t want to do that with the gum still in your mouth. And maybe not at all-- if you’re supposed to “park” the gum several times, the vinegar may irritate the inside of your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/6 "2007-04-10T11:15:10Z")
[QUOTE=George Kaplin] (10 days clean, recognise!) [/QUOTE] Recognised. Congratulations, good work, and good luck. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/7 "2007-04-10T11:34:50Z")
Last time I tried that shit, I was in a 7-hour meeting with no chance for a cig, with a bunch of new colleagues. After about two chews it gave me the worst nausea ever, and it was all I could do not to barf all over the table. Ghastly business. Well done **George**. Reck-A-NIZE. Wish I had the wherewithall. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-nicotine-gum-give-me-such-terrible-hiccups/399366/8 "2007-04-10T23:31:59Z")
[QUOTE=John Carter of Mars] I _seem to recall_ that there are 4mg of nicotine/cigarette, so chewing a piece of 4mg gum shouldn’t constitute an overdose of nicotine. [/QUOTE] According to the Tar and Nicotine levels on cigarette ads, the strongest cigarette has about 1 mg of nicotine…lights about .5 mg. And I corrected myself on the ‘overdose’, it’s just a lot more then you’d get from the normal smoking of a cigarette. I’m currently on Nicoderm CQ 21 mg…my second day. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and got the hiccups for about 20 minutes.