How Do Nicotine Lozenges Work in Canada?

What is a nicotine lozenge?

Alberta Quits describes the lozenge as a product that releases nicotine when you suck on it. HealthLinkBC says gum and lozenges slowly release nicotine into your mouth. Health Canada puts the lozenge in its list of short-acting nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), alongside gum, spray and the inhaler. For the full set of forms, including the patch and pouch, see nicotine replacement products in Canada.

How does it differ from gum, a patch or an inhaler?

Health Canada says short-acting forms are meant to help you control cravings as they appear. They can be used alone or with a patch, which is the long-acting option. The sources we read do not compare lozenge strength or speed against gum, so we do not rank them. Our nicotine gum page covers that product separately.

The inhaler differs in how the nicotine reaches you. Alberta Quits says it delivers a puff of nicotine vapour into your mouth and throat. HealthLinkBC describes a holder that contains the nicotine, and says the inhaler may not be a good choice if you have asthma, allergies or a sinus problem.

What strengths do lozenges come in?

Health Canada’s advertising guidance says it has authorized NRT products with 4 mg of nicotine or less as natural health products, and it names lozenges among the examples. The only lozenge strengths we found stated are on the BC PharmaCare page, which lists 2 mg and 4 mg for the lozenges it covers. We could not open a Health Canada product record that lists every strength sold, so other strengths may exist. Check the package.

How do you use a lozenge?

The official pages we read describe how the product works but give no step-by-step schedule. Alberta Quits says you suck on the lozenge, and none of the pages states how many to use in a day. The dose and schedule are on the product label, and a pharmacist can go through them with you. See pharmacy smoking cessation programs if your pharmacy offers a consult.

Who should ask a doctor or pharmacist first?

Alberta Quits advises talking to a pharmacist or health care provider first if you are under 18, pregnant, or have allergies or health conditions. HealthLinkBC gives more detail:

• People under 18 cannot buy these products over the counter, though a doctor may prescribe them to younger people.
• Ask your doctor before combining nicotine replacement products.
• Talk to your doctor first if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or if you have a condition such as heart problems or mental illness.

Health Canada says that during pregnancy or breastfeeding, counselling comes first, and that short-acting NRT such as the lozenge or inhaler is preferred over the patch. Its advertising guidance also says authorized products are for adults 18 and over, so teens should speak to a health professional instead of buying on their own.

What side effects are listed?

Alberta Quits lists nausea, hiccups, heartburn, cough, headache and trouble sleeping for the lozenge. HealthLinkBC lists upset stomach, hiccups, heartburn and gas. For the inhaler, Alberta Quits lists mouth and throat irritation, cough, hiccups, headache, heartburn and an unpleasant taste, and HealthLinkBC lists coughing, a scratchy throat and upset stomach. Some of these can overlap with withdrawal itself; see nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Do you need a prescription, and who pays?

Alberta Quits says NRT products can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription. HealthLinkBC says the same for lozenges and the inhaler, with the under-18 limit above.

On cost, the clearest official statement we found is from British Columbia. BC PharmaCare says its smoking cessation program covers the full cost of nicotine gum, lozenges and patches, and the lozenges named are 2 mg and 4 mg in mint flavour only. The page does not mention inhalers. Ontario’s support page says people can join the STOP program for cost-free NRT, without naming which products. Eligibility rules differ, so check what is free for you and the medications overview.

If cravings are your worry, how long cravings last and how to choose your quit method may help you plan.

What we could not confirm

• Every lozenge strength and flavour sold in Canada. We could not read a Health Canada product record, and only the BC PharmaCare page states strengths (2 mg and 4 mg).
• How many lozenges to use per day and for how long. No official page we opened states a schedule, so follow the label and ask a pharmacist.
• Whether the inhaler is covered anywhere. The BC page does not mention it, and the Ontario page does not name products.
• Any official Canadian description of a mouth-dissolving form beyond the lozenge itself.
• Lozenge coverage in provinces other than British Columbia. The Ontario and Manitoba pages we read did not name lozenges.