What is Nicotine Poisoning?

Nicotine poisoning refers to the toxic effects that can occur when your body absorbs too much nicotine.  

For instance, it takes most people 6 minutes to finish a cigarette—now compare that to a nicotine pouch, which lasts up to 60 minutes. A cigarette won't necessarily contain the same amount of nicotine as a pouch either. So, depending on what your "normal" is, you could be consuming more or less nicotine, faster or slower than usual.

A little nicotine may be fine for regular users, but excessive amounts can cause some unpleasant—even dangerous—side effects. While it’s highly unlikely that you’ll overdose on nicotine, knowing what to look out for and how to handle the situation if things go wrong is important for the sake of your safety and others’. 

Nicotine poisoning is more likely to happen if you’re using high strength products, if you don’t have a lot of nicotine experience, or if you’re consuming it in an unfamiliar way (remember that passively absorbing nicotine in a pouch is different to actively puffing on a cigarette). 

Don’t be fooled though—nicotine poisoning can also happen to experienced users. It’s simply the result of too much nicotine entering the body, essentially overwhelming your system.

Some of the most common causes of nicotine poisoning are: 

• Accidentally eating nicotine products. Children or pets can get into nicotine pouches, gums, or vape juice if they’re not stored properly. 
  
  
• Misusing Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs). Not following the recommended dosage and using too many patches, gums, or lozenges at the same time. 
  
  
• Swallowing e-liquid or spilling it on your skin. High strength nicotine vape juice can be dangerous if ingested but, what you might not realize, is that it presents the same risks if absorbed by touch. 
  
  
• Inhalation exposure. Direct inhalation of high-strength nicotine aerosols from e-cigarettes or extended exposure to “vape clouds” in an enclosed space. 
  
  
• Nicotine-based pesticides. This is rare, but working outdoors and having too much skin contact with nicotine-based gardening products is not good either. 

Just like there’s no set number for how many nicotine pouches it’s ok to consume per day, what’s considered a dangerous amount of nicotine is highly individual.  

It depends on several factors, including your body weight and individual tolerance, as well as how you choose to consume the nicotine—both in terms of product (vape vs pouch, etc) and frequency (back-to-back vs spaced out over the course of a day).

Because nicotine affects everyone differently, it's important to be mindful of how much you're consuming. This is especially important if you're trying a new product, using a higher strength, or alternating between different nicotine sources. If you start to feel unwell after using nicotine, take a break. 

Nicotine poisoning typically unfolds in 2 distinct stages. First comes an initial surge, where the nervous system is overstimulated, causing a rush of activity in the body. This is followed by a second phase where the body tries to compensate by slowing down, which can cause weakness, confusion, and, in extreme cases, breathing difficulties. 

Mild nicotine poisoning usually gets better within 1-2 hours, while severe instances can last up to 24 hours. Recognizing the symptoms early and acting quickly is key to preventing serious health complications. 

Symptoms can easily escalate, so it’s crucial to respond straight away if you suspect someone is experiencing nicotine poisoning.  

If you find yourself in this situation, here’s what to do: 

• Drink plenty of water. Have the person rinse their mouth thoroughly with water to get rid of any remaining traces of nicotine and make sure to keep them hydrated. 
  
  
• Get fresh air. Move the person to an open area with good ventilation. They may want to lie down if they’re feeling nauseous or dizzy.  
  
  
• Monitor their symptoms. If their condition doesn’t improve within 1-2 hours, call Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222 for medical advice. It’s better to be safe than sorry! 
  
  
• Dial 911 in an emergency. In serious cases, hospital care may be needed. Treatment could include activated charcoal (to limit nicotine absorption), IV fluids for hydration, oxygen therapy to support breathing, or medications to stabilize heart rate and blood pressure. 

Taking a few simple precautions can go a long way towards keeping everyone safe around nicotine.  

The golden rule is to listen to your body. That means sticking within reasonable nicotine limits and not using multiple nicotine products at the same time unless advised by a professional.  

Other pointers to keep in mind include: 

• Pace your nicotine consumption. Give your body time to process the nicotine after removing a pouch before replacing it with a fresh one.  
  
  
• Store your nicotine products securely. If you have kids, it’s especially important to keep all your pouches, gums, vape juice, and/or patches out of their reach. Don’t just leave these products lying around. Most e-liquids and high-strength nicotine products come with child-resistant lids or caps, so close them properly after each use too. 
  
  
• Educate your household. Make sure everyone who needs to know about the risks of nicotine does—especially when it comes to young children or pets who might accidentally ingest it. This includes family members, roommates, and babysitters. 
  
  
• Dispose of used products safely. Pouches, patches, vapes, and cigarettes can still contain traces of nicotine after you’re done with them. Be sure to throw them away to prevent accidental exposure. 
   

Remember that nicotine is addictive and intended for adult (21+) use only. Being aware of the risks of a nicotine overdose and taking preventative action to make sure this doesn’t happen will make you feel more in control of your nicotine consumption.