Nicotine mouth spray
Key points about nicotine mouth spray
- Nicotine mouth spray helps prevent cravings or the urge to smoke.
- Nicotine mouth spray is also called Nicorette® Quickmist.
- Find out how to use it safely and possible side effects.

Nicotine mouth spray is available as:
- Nicorette® Quickmist 1 mg per spray (each mouth spray contains at least 150 sprays)
- It comes in a fresh mint or cool berry flavour.
Dose
- Use 1 to 2 sprays in your mouth when the urge to smoke occurs or to prevent cravings.
- Maximum dose: Do not use more than 4 sprays an hour for 16 hours or more than 64 sprays a day.
- Before using for the first time, prime the pump by pressing the top firmly into a tissue until a fine mist appears. If you don’t use the spray for a couple of days, you may need to repeat this step.
- Press the top of the dispenser to release 1 spray into your mouth (either under your tongue or on the inside of your cheek)
- Wait a few seconds before swallowing.
- Using 2 NRT products (eg, a combination of patches and mouth spray) is more effective than using 1.
Video: Nicotine replacement therapy – inhalators and mouth spray
(Te Whatu Ora | Health Promotion, NZ, 2024)
te reo Māori version(external link)
This video is also available with transcripts in Samoan and Tongan.
Here are some things to know when you're using the mouth spray. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.
If you have oesophagitis, gastritis, or peptic ulcers, using swallowed NRT can worsen these conditions. Let your doctor know if any symptoms get worse.
Like all medicines, NRT can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them and serious side effects are very rare. Side effects may be similar to smoking withdrawal symptoms which should disappear within 4 weeks. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.
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Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.
- Nicotine replacement therapy (external link) Patient information leaflet NZ Formulary
- Nicorette® Nicotine QuickMist Spray(external link) Nicorette NZ
Resources
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
References
- Nicorette Quickmist oral spray(external link) Product Datasheet Medsafe, NZ, 2019
- Nicotine(external link) NZ Formulary, 2022
- The New Zealand Guidelines for Helping People to Stop Smoking Update(external link) Ministry of Health, NZ, 2021
Brochures
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
Credits: Healthify He Puna Waiora editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
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