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When used as directed symptoms of overdose with nicotine may occur in patients with low pre-treatment nicotine intake or if other sources of nicotine are used concomitantly.
Symptoms of overdose are those of acute nicotine poisoning and include nausea, vomiting, increased salivation, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sweating, headache, dizziness, disturbed hearing and marked weakness. At high doses, these symptoms may be followed by hypotension, weak and irregular pulse, breathing difficulties, prostration, circulatory collapse and general convulsions.
Paediatric population: Doses of nicotine that are tolerated by adult smokers during treatment may produce severe symptoms of poisoning in children and may prove fatal. Suspected nicotine poisoning in a child should be considered a medical emergency and treated immediately.
Management of overdose: Administration of nicotine must be stopped immediately and the patient should be treated symptomatically. If excessive amount of nicotine is swallowed, activated charcoal reduces the gastrointestinal absorption of nicotine. The acute minimum lethal oral dose of nicotine in man is believed to be 40 to 60 mg.
In the event of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
