ZYN nicotine pouches are a great way to satisfy your nicotine cravings while minimizing the mess and health risks that usually accompany other products like cigarettes, vapes, and snus.
ZYN nicopods don’t contain tobacco or sugar, and they’re made out of food-grade ingredients. This might make it seem like putting in a new pouch as soon as the old one’s out is a great way to keep a buzz going. However, since ZYN still contains nicotine, it’s not as simple as that.
Figuring out how long you should wait between each pouch can be tricky, mostly because the onset and duration of the buzz is longer than with other nicotine products.
To determine the best time between ZYNs, we’ll explore the following questions:
- How long should you wait between ZYNS?
- How long does it take for ZYNs to kick in?
- What happens if you use ZYNs too often?
- How to use ZYNs correctly?
How Long Should You Wait Between ZYN Pouches?
There isn’t an exact amount of time you should wait between using ZYN pouches, but a general recommendation is to wait at least 30 minutes between pouches. Still, individual factors like nicotine tolerance and general health make each experience different. The best way to figure out the best time between ZYNs is to wait until you feel a craving, put a pouch in, and see how you feel.
Remember that the strength of the pouch also affects how long you need to wait. When you use a stronger pouch, the nicotine levels in your blood remain high for longer. Compared to a beginner-friendly pouch, this means you’ll need to wait a bit longer before reaching for another one.
Source: Thirdman
How Long Does It Take For ZYN to Kick in?
Seconds after tucking the ZYN pouch under your lip, you may experience a tingling sensation called “zyngle.” This is how you know that nicotine is being delivered into your bloodstream.
You might also start to feel a mild change in your mood and increase in focus quickly after the pouch is placed, but it takes about 5 minutes for the ZYN to fully kick in.
The timeline of a ZYN pouch looks like this:
| Time | What’s Happening? |
| 0–5 minutes | The saliva in your mouth wets the pouch. It starts releasing nicotine and flavor |
| 5–10 minutes | The nicotine is in your bloodstream and you feel more focused and alert |
| 10–20 minutes | The effects of nicotine get stronger |
| 20–30 minutes | Blood nicotine levels peak and so does the buzz |
How Long Does It Take To Get Used to ZYN?
Like any other nicotine product, ZYN pouches come with an adjustment period. The most noticeable aspects of this adjustment are the steady nicotine delivery and the tingling sensation when you place the pouch.
The time it takes to get used to ZYN pouches varies based on your nicotine tolerance and other factors like oral health. For experienced users, it may take only one session to adjust, while beginners might need several days or weeks to acclimate.
To make the transition smoother, start with milder pouches and gradually increase strength as your tolerance grows. Jumping straight into a stronger pouch may lead to discomfort, which could affect your overall enjoyment of ZYN.
How Long Do You Keep ZYNs In?
Depending on your tolerance and the strength of the ZYN nicotine pouch, you can take it out at any point after the first 5–10 minutes. By the tenth minute, more than half of the nicotine will have been released, so that’s a good starting point.
If you’re a more experienced user, it’s recommended that you keep your pouches in for up to 30 minutes to get the most out of them.
60 minutes is the maximum time you should keep a ZYN in. After 30 minutes, the pouch will have released most of its nicotine, leaving only the flavor, which can last for up to an hour.
Once you’ve gone past the 60-minute mark, keeping the ZYN in your mouth doesn’t provide any benefit. After an hour, take the pouch out and throw it away.
What Happens if You Use ZYN Too Often?
If you don’t wait long enough between ZYNs, you can shock your system by exposing it to too much nicotine within a short period. This can lead to several side effects, including the most common ones like:
- Nausea
- Acid reflux
- Sore throat
- Dry mouth
- Burning gums
Source: Towfiqu Barbhuiya
Nausea
Nicotine stimulates the production of pepsin—an enzyme used in digestion—as well as stomach acid. A sudden increase in either of these can irritate your stomach lining and make you nauseous or cause stomach cramps.
If you start feeling nauseous with the pouch in, remove it immediately and drink water to help soothe your stomach. Spitting out your saliva can also help alleviate the feeling since it contains enzymes that help you throw up.
Acid Reflux
An increase in nicotine levels can stimulate excessive stomach acid production, which raises the risk of getting acid reflux.
Acid reflux happens when the muscle separating your esophagus from your stomach doesn’t fully block stomach acid, letting it raise up. When this happens, you can experience heartburn—an unpleasant burning sensation in your chest.i
Taking antacids will help you neutralize the acid and relieve the symptoms. If you don’t have any on hand, drinking water may also help.
Sore Throat
Nicotine is an irritant, so when the lining of your throat is exposed to it, you may experience a mild scratchy feeling. This is a commonly reported side effect of ZYN use and should subside within the first few minutes of putting the pouch in.
Nicotine exposure can turn mild scratchiness into throat pain. To ease this, drink water to rinse out nicotine residue and avoid swallowing your spit, as it can worsen the issue by introducing more nicotine to your throat.
Source: Thomas Chauke
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough saliva. Saliva is important because it helps wash away food residue and bacteria from your teeth. Without enough saliva, bacteria build up and begin to break down, which can cause bad breath.
Nicotine, due to its diuretic properties, can speed up dehydration, which in turn reduces saliva production, leading to dry mouth. Staying hydrated is the best way to prevent this from happening.
Burning Gums
The tingling sensation you feel when you put in a ZYN pouch is a normal sign that it’s working. For most users, it goes away within the first few minutes. If the sensation becomes unpleasant or you start feeling like your gums are burning, remove the pouch immediately.
A burning sensation and gum sensitivity can be caused when you use pouches that are too strong for you or when you use them too often. This, paired with the physical irritation of the pouch rubbing against them, is the most common cause of burning gums.
How To Take ZYNs Properly?
To use a ZYN pouch, put it in between your upper lip and gums and wait. Once the pouch becomes wet, it will start delivering nicotine to your bloodstream through the mucous membrane in your mouth.
Here are some dos and don’ts to ensure a pleasurable ZYN experience:
- Don’t chew the pouches: Nicotine pouches are designed to release nicotine slowly and gradually when placed in the mouth. Chewing the pouch can cause it to tear, releasing a much higher dose of nicotine all at once, which may make you feel sick
- Don’t reuse pouches: ZYNs are meant for single use. Once the pouch is in, the nicotine salts dissolve completely. A used pouch is not only ineffective but also a breeding ground for bacteria, which you risk introducing to your body by reusing it
- Pay attention to your reaction: While ZYN strength can guide your choice, the best test is how it feels in use. If it’s too strong, remove it; if there’s no buzz, try a stronger one
- Use one pouch at a time: More than one pouch at a time puts unnecessary strain on your gums and wastes money. If you need more than one pouch to get a buzz, you should up the strength
The key to a good experience with ZYN pouches is choosing the right strength for your tolerance and needs. Even with proper intervals, a pouch that’s too strong can make you feel sick.
Source: ZYN
How Strong Is ZYN?
ZYN pouches come in four strength levels, expressed in mg/pouch. The levels and nicotine content can be tricky to understand, but comparing them to cigarettes is a great way to grasp what you’re working with.
Knowing which level suits your needs best can minimize the risk of overexposure when you use ZYN pouches.
Ranging from weakest to strongest, here’s how ZYN stacks up against daily cigarette usage:
- Low (1.5 mg): Less than 5 cigarettes
- Regular (3 mg): Up to 10 cigarettes
- Strong (6 mg): About 15 cigarettes
- Extra strong (9 mg): More than a pack
Low (1.5 mg): Less Than 5 Cigarettes
These are the mildest ZYNs on the market. A single 1.5 mg ZYN pouch delivers about half a cigarette’s worth of nicotine.
Because they’re so mild, these pouches work well if you’d like to get the benefits of nicotine without the drawbacks. They also make a great starting point if you don’t have a history of nicotine use and will take the shortest time to get used to.
They’re mostly used by social smokers or those who haven’t used nicotine products before ZYN.
Regular (3 mg): Up to 10 Cigarettes
These ZYNs are as strong as a cigarette, except the buzz will last you much longer, so you won’t have to use them as often to satisfy your craving.
Aside from the longer buzz, these pouches are a great way to suppress your craving without worrying about the smell of smoke or staining your teeth. They are usually preferred by casual or regular smokers who don’t enjoy the potency of cigarettes.
Strong (6 mg): About 15 Cigarettes
If you’re an experienced user or a long-time smoker with a built-up tolerance, ZYN strong pouches are a great way to get your buzz without resorting to inhalable products.
Each pouch will, on average, deliver twice as much nicotine as a cigarette, making it a suitable option for dealing with intense and persistent cravings.
Extra strong (9 mg): More Than a Pack
These pouches pack three times the nicotine of a cigarette, so they’re best for people with a high nicotine tolerance. They’re usually a good fit for those who’ve been smoking more than a pack a day for a while.
While not the strongest option available, a 9-mg ZYN pouch may not be the best choice for beginners, as it could cause some side effects. For regular users, though, it’s a convenient option to have around, especially in places where smoking or vaping isn’t allowed, like on a plane or at the cinema, when you’re craving that hit.
Knowing the strength of the product you’re using is important. To stay safe while using nicotine pouches, it’s best to stick to popular brands and trusted sellers.
SnusBoss—A Reliable Source Of Quality Pouches
When you buy from SnusBoss, you know exactly what you’re getting. Made and run by experts, SnusBoss guarantees that their EU-imported pouches are of superior quality, available in a variety of flavors, and offer a range of strengths to suit your preference.
Ordering from Snusboss is a simple, three-step process:
- Go to the online store
- Choose your favorite ZYN flavor and strength
- Put in your shipping and payment information
Aside from the great selection of ZYN pouches, SnusBoss has a wide variety of strengths and flavors from these brands as well:
The great selection is not the only benefit you get when you buy from SnusBoss. The website offers you the following perks:
- Express delivery option gets your pouches to you within 2–3 business days
- Free shipping for orders above $249
- Competitive pricing and regular discounts and promotions
Keep in mind that to legally buy and use nicotine products in the U.S., you have to be 21 or older.
Featured image source: Stas Knop