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Comment by mpreda | Hacker News Reader

I'm a non smoker, I never smoked. Once I decided to try a nicotine chewing gum, took one pillow and chewed it thoroughly. After about 5-10minutes I suffered some very very severe effects, including: I started sweating extremelly such that all my clothes become wet quickly and sweat was dripping down my nose, ears, and into my eyes. I felt an intense and urgent need to urinate and defecate, which luckily I could do on the spot (happened to be in the proximity of a public toilet). I think after about 30minutes the simptoms subsided. I subjectivelly imagined that I ran the risk of a heart attack there.

So, I'd like to warn any non-smoker that may want to try out nicotine: please start with a very small dose, and only gradually build up; because otherwise it can be dangerous.

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FYI, nicotine poisoning is uncomfortable but if it happens to you, you can greatly reduce the effect by eating something sweet, the effects seem to be blood sugar dependent. Try a spoonful of honey or a can of coke, you will feel better almost instantly.

This tip brought to you by cigar smokers.

This definitely sounded like nicotine poisoning. I don't smoke cigars specifically because of this singularly unpleasant experience. I think I'd rather have COVID, the flu, and pnuemonia all together than ever get nicotine poisoning again.

FWIW, you're not supposed to chew it thoroughly, even if you're a smoker. You're supposed to gently bite once to break it open, then tuck it in your cheek or under your lip for a while, and repeat as necessary. Chewing like normal gum releases it all at once which is not advisable.

You’re supposed to chew it only until it tastes peppery then park it in your gum/cheek

Thanks for the PSA. One would think a 10,000 word article on the benefits of non-smoking nicotine use, with a dedicated section on health issues, might mention this important detail...

Instructions are usually on the box, but you’re right, no mention of nicotine overdose which is quite unpleasant and easily negates any productivity benefits if experienced.

And the funny follow-up: after this one-time rather completly unpleasant experience, I developed an intense smell sensibility to nicotine that lasted about one month: I could feel/smell the presence of small amounts of nicotine and have a very somatic "sick" reaction to it. I guess my body learned quickly to alert me of the "poison". Luckily, this reaction dissapeared and everything reverted to normal after about one month.

Or just never build up and always use small doses. No real addiction, and you still get great effects similar to caffeine or amphetamine as long as you don't use it often enough to build up a tolerance (which isn't too hard).

Nicotine poisoning is one of the worst feelings imaginable. The headache is stuff of legends and, interestingly, the same headache I had with Covid and for weeks after. I get a bit sick even thinking about it.

Welcome to nicotine poisoning. You are only supposed to chew until you get flavor, then suck on it like you would spitting tobacco except not spitting. When you get a craving, you chew a few more times. The symptoms you describe are classic nicotine poisoning symptoms. Sweats, expulsions of fluids, rapid heart rate, disorientation.

It also describes what I felt like the first time I ever tried a cigarette.

The disorientation is why most kids vape. Then they are addicted.

The kids call that a head rush.

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