Even for those who have been using nicotine pouches for years, there’s always something new to learn. One common query is the number of pouches or ZYNs that are OK to use in a day.
While there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, this article will serve as a guide. We’ll run through how much nicotine can be consumed in a day, how many pouches that translates to, and how to space out usage effectively.
How Many ZYNs a Day is the Upper Limit?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50-60 milligrams of nicotine per day is the absolute upper limit.
Prilla’s offering includes two different ZYN strengths: 3mg or 6mg.
However, the body only absorbs around 30% of the nicotine in a pouch (bear in mind this can vary depending on metabolism and resistance) Therefore, consuming 50 milligrams’ worth of nicotine pouches means absorbing 15 milligrams of nicotine.
In the case of ZYNs with a 6 mg strength, the nicotine consumption per pouch would be 1.8 mg — let’s round it up to 2 mg to err on the side of caution.
Since 50 mg divided by two is 25, 25 6mg ZYNs per day is the maximum. This could be doubled to 50 for those using 3mg ZYNs instead.
Sounds simple enough, right? Hang on in there. We’re only talking about the absolute upper limit for the average person. The reality can be a lot more complex, as we’ll get into shortly.
How Many ZYNs Should I Have a Day?
There’s no universal number for how many ZYNs a person should use because, even if two people both enjoy five 6mg ZYNs every day, their bodies may not react in the same way. We certainly don’t recommend jumping straight into using fifty ZYNs per day!
Some people smoke for years and years before switching to oral products. Since they’re used to getting a lot of nicotine in a day, they can tolerate more nicotine than an absolute beginner.
Also, a 6’5 man who weighs 200lbs and a 5’0 woman who weighs 100lbs are unlikely to tolerate the same amount of nicotine — the CDC recommendations are based on someone with an average weight of around 150 pounds.
There are various other individual differences that could affect how two people could react to the same amount of nicotine.
Figuring Out Nicotine Tolerance
Those who used other kinds of nicotine products will already have a reference point for how their body reacts to nicotine.
But they shouldn’t necessarily reach for ZYNs with the same contents, since absorption rates differ.
We’ve listed the typical absorption rates of various products below:
- Nicotine pouches: 25% to 30%
- Nicotine gum: 50-70%
- Nicotine lozenges: Around 50%
- Nicotine patches: 70-90%
- Cigarettes: 10-20%
- E-cigarettes: 20-30%
Since the absorption rate of nicotine is higher in nicotine pouches than in cigarettes, someone switching to pouches from cigarettes should consume a lower amount of nicotine overall.
But for nicotine beginners, figuring out their potential tolerance comes down to guesswork, so it’s always best to start with low amounts and only increase this after experiencing minimal effect. They should be far below the maximum daily dose.
How Many Nicotine Pouches a Day for Other Brands?
No matter what brand of nicotine pouches a person chooses, the same logic can be applied to work out how many pouches they can use per day.
Check the nicotine strength of one pouch, divide it by 30% to account for absorption, and verify the total amount consumed is below the recommended upper limit.
Bear in mind that many pouches come in higher strengths than ZYN.
"Strong” products have 8 mg per pouch or more. For instance, FRE Mint 15mg contains 15 mg of nicotine per pouch, meaning roughly 5mg of nicotine is absorbed. Just 10 of these pouches takes a person to the upper threshold of nicotine consumption.
How Many Nicotine Pouch Cans Per Day?
This depends on how many nicotine pouches are in a can and how much nicotine each can contains, as well as individual factors.
In the case of ZYN, one can contains 15 pouches. As a result, most experienced users could safely get through at least one can per day, even when using the stronger 6mg pouches.
What Determines the Strength of Nicotine Pouches?
Essentially, pouches are like tiny pillows filled with a mixture of filler and nicotine. As they become moist, they release nicotine, targeting the membranes in the lip and gum.
Moisture level plays a big role in how long a nicotine pouch lasts and how quickly it releases nicotine. Meanwhile, the amount of nicotine determines strength — and, therefore, how many pouches can be consumed in a day.
How to Space Out Nicotine Pouch Usage
There are no fixed rules about how to space out nicotine pouch usage.
Not everyone wants to have anywhere close to 25 nicotine pouches per day or to put an additional ZYN in their mouth the second the release of their first one ends.
Some people feel good for a few hours after finishing a pouch or only want to use nicotine pouches from time to time. Others use them in a more scheduled way throughout the day.
Regardless, just like with other forms of nicotine, nicotine pouches are typically used around activities or moments in the day when they make the most sense. That probably means during your morning commute or to relax in the evening, and not during a gym session.
Unlike other forms of nicotine, however, pouches can be used anytime or anywhere. This can help with spacing out usage.
Some people like to enjoy certain flavors or strengths at a certain time of day. For instance, a mint pouch after lunch or a higher-strength pouch first thing in the morning.
Signs of Excessive Nicotine Consumption
When figuring out how many nicotine pouches to consume per day, it’s crucial to look out for the warning signs of overconsumption.
Nicotine experiences can vary from person to person, so pay attention to cues from the body and adjust usage to make the experience enjoyable.
Some signs to look out for include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Shakiness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Burning sensation in the mouth
Experiencing any of the above signals that it's time to slow down pouch use a bit. Adjusting to personal needs is very important to get that "just-right" experience. Try cutting back the number of pouches used per day, or swap out stronger pouches for options with less strength.
