What happens if you swallow nicotine pouches

If you have swallowed a nicotine pouch, there is no reason to panic. Nicotine pouches are tobacco-free, and will therefore not cause an interior body riot (as might happen if you swallowed snus). In fact, less nicotine would be absorbed into your bloodstream than if you had placed the pouch under your lip.

Moreover, besides nicotine, the ingredients in the pouches are basically harmless. In fact, the ingredients read a little like a common household recipe: water, salt, and food grade fillers (as well as optional flavourings). However, the actual pouches are not intended to be digested, and therefore consumers are advised to remove them from the lip and throw them in the trash (like you would chewing gum – another product not meant to end up in your digestive tract).

Like chewing gum, swallowing a pouch (or maybe two) in your lifetime is probably not going to have a serious impact. However, if you often swallow nicotine pouches, it would be wise to stop, as the ingredients are not suitable for consumption in high quantities – remember that nicotine is still a chemical, and should only be used as recommended on the packaging.

The use of nicotine is never without a certain risk, and so all use of nicotine products should be done with consideration to your own body. Although nicotine doesn’t cause cancer, too much nicotine in your system can cause nicotine poisoning. The symptoms of this include nausea and vomiting, headaches, stomach ache and a loss of appetite, as well as dehydration and increased blood pressure. Although the fatality rate of nicotine poisoning is not high, it does mess with your system – such as increasing then dropping blood pressure – and is something to keep in mind when you feel tempted to swallow your nicotine pouch again.

It is also incredibly important that you keep your nicotine pouches out of the reach of children. If kids were to find and consume their parents’ nicotine pouch stash, the impact of nicotine on their small, developing bodies could be more severe.

Always remember to follow the clues of your own body – it will always tell you how it’s feeling if you just listen. So, if you have swallowed a nicotine pouch, and you don't feel well (or you're worried), you can always visit your doctor for a quick check up. Whenever you’re in doubt, it is better to err on the side of caution.