How to Use ZYN Nicotine Pouches Safely and Effectively

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Learn how to properly consume and dispose of ZYN products

Co-authored by Johnathan Fuentes

Last Updated: September 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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• How to Use ZYN Nicotine Pouches
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• Is ZYN a safe alternative to tobacco?
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• Can ZYN pouches help me quit using tobacco?
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• Video

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ZYN nicotine pouches can be a great alternative to smoking or chewing tobacco. Whether you’re looking for another source of nicotine or trying to cut out tobacco altogether, ZYN products let you quench your craving without stepping outside for a smoke break. So how do they work, exactly? And how do you know which type of ZYN is right for you? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our total guide on using ZYN products—plus some answers to common questions about how and why to use them.

Things You Should Know

• Choose a ZYN flavor and nicotine concentration that’s right for you. There are 10 flavors and 2 concentrations to choose from.
• Choose a higher nicotine concentration if you are a heavy tobacco user and wish to replace tobacco products with ZYN.
• ZYN pouches are not recommended for quitting tobacco. Try sobriety apps to help you quit, or talk to your doctor about medication to help with withdrawal symptoms.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

How to Use ZYN Nicotine Pouches

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   1
   Choose a flavor and nicotine concentration. Pick a flavor that you’ll enjoy consuming on a daily basis—and a nicotine concentration that meets your needs. For example, if you’re a heavy smoker and looking to replace cigarettes with ZYN, you might opt for a higher nicotine concentration. Occasional tobacco users might opt for a lower nicotine concentration.

   • Flavor options: cool mint, peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, coffee, citrus, and menthol—plus two “unflavored” varieties: smooth and chill.
   • Nicotine concentrations: 3mg and 6mg.
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   2
   Break the perforated the side label to open the childproof container. Twist the lid until the top and bottom arrows align. The lid should pop off easily.

   • Each ZYN container holds 15 nicotine pouches.
   • Always keep your ZYN container away from children and people under 21.
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   3
   Place one pouch between your gums and upper lip for up to 1 hour. The nicotine will slowly release from the pouch and be absorbed by your body. Once the pouch loses its flavor, you'll know that you've absorbed the nicotine and can spit out the pouch.

   • Most ZYN users consume 8-12 pouches per day, but the amount is totally up to you.
   • Watch out for side effects like nausea, gum irritation, and soreness in the mouth. If you experience these effects, discontinue use and talk to your doctor.
   • Be sure to dispose of the pouch in a closed garbage can. This helps to prevent animals or children from getting to it, since it may still contain traces of nicotine.
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Section 2 of 3:

Is ZYN a safe alternative to tobacco?

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   1
   There’s no evidence that nicotine pouches are safer than tobacco. It’s true that ZYN pouches don’t contain many of the chemicals found in tobacco. They also don’t produce second-hand smoke or ash, which means they don’t affect other people around you in the same way. But scientists aren’t sold on nicotine pouches as a safe alternative to tobacco use. More research needs to be done before we can know for sure.

   • Talk to your doctor about whether ZYN patches are right for your specific health needs.
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   2
   ZYN pouches still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and potentially harmful. Even in the absence of smoke, nicotine has a lot of adverse effects on your lungs, heart, kidneys, and other parts of your body. Nicotine may also be a carcinogen, meaning that it may actually cause cancer.

   • As long as you use nicotine, you can still become—or remain—addicted to it. Quitting nicotine altogether is the only way to prevent this.
   • The long-term effects of nicotine pouches are still unknown.
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Section 3 of 3:

Can ZYN pouches help me quit using tobacco?

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   ZYN pouches are not recommended for people trying to quit tobacco. While the medical community doesn’t advise against this specifically, nicotine pouches were not formulated for this purpose. With that said, some tobacco users do replace tobacco with nicotine pouches like ZYN and it can help them taper off of tobacco products.

   • Try sobriety apps like Easy Quit or Quit Tracker if you're trying to quit tobacco. These can be great for building motivation, setting goals, celebrating milestones, and building community with other users who are also trying to quit.
   • For the less app-savvy, Smokefree.gov has a text messaging service offering 24/7 support to people trying to quit smoking.
   • Consider medications to ease the side effects of nicotine withdrawal. There several prescription medications available to help with quitting smoking, plus a few over-the-counter options that you can look into.

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