Drug watchdogs have updated the list of side effects for Nicotinell Mint Compressed Lozenges to include atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that can cause a rapid, intense heartbeat and lead to life-threatening complications. The warning applies to the brand's 1mg and 2mg lozenges sold at major retailers including Boots, Tesco, Morrisons, and ASDA, costing £24 for a pack of 204.
Nicotinell lozenges resemble small white tablets and dissolve in the mouth to release nicotine, the highly addictive stimulant found in cigarettes and vapes, into the bloodstream. Previous research published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research showed that nicotine increases heart rate.
Another study in the European Heart Journal, published last December, noted that nicotine triggers the body's fight or flight response, causing the heart to beat faster and pump more forcefully. According to the British Heart Foundation, people with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a deadly or life-changing stroke.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the UK, killing around 38,000 Britons each year. Nicotinell guidance states that the likelihood of atrial fibrillation occurring from its products is not known.
The condition now sits alongside other potential side effects in the not known group, including tremors, which refers to uncontrollable shaking, as well as flu-like symptoms and itchy hives. However, the most common side effects of the lozenges include nausea, mouth and throat pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, dizziness, and insomnia.
Symptoms and diagnosis rates
The NHS urges anyone who believes they may have atrial fibrillation to see a GP. Alongside an irregular or rapid heartbeat, symptoms can include feeling extremely tired, chest pains, difficulty exercising, shortness of breath, and feeling faint.
According to the British Heart Foundation, around 1.5 million people have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in the UK. That figure is a 50 per cent jump from 2013, when around one million people had the condition. The charity also estimated that 270,000 people in the UK may have atrial fibrillation without knowing it.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said previously that the figures showed an "astonishing rise" in diagnosed cases. He added: "Research has helped us understand the links between atrial fibrillation and stroke and that has spurred the efforts we have seen in recent years to identify people with this potentially dangerous heart rhythm."
He added: "What remains troubling is the sheer number of people who are undiagnosed and unaware that they are living with a heightened risk of stroke. Finding people with this hidden threat must remain a priority."
Heart failure risks
A Danish study published in the British Medical Journal in 2024 found that around 40 per cent of people with atrial fibrillation are likely to develop heart failure during their lifetime. By comparison, researchers estimated that around 20 per cent would experience a stroke.
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood around the body effectively. It is one of several cardiovascular diseases, which collectively kill around 170,000 people in the UK each year.
