Snus Headaches: Where They Come From and What You Can Do About Them

Tried snus for the first time and ended up with a headache? No need to worry, that can genuinely happen at the start. We'll explain why it sometimes happens and how you can get rid of it!

Quick facts about snus headaches

• Snus headaches are caused by a nicotine shock.
• Dizziness and nausea can occur as well.
• Take the pouch out of your mouth if you notice snus side effects like these.

How snus headaches happen: the causes

Snus comes in the form of small pouches that you place in your mouth. This lets the ingredients pass quickly through the oral mucosa and into your bloodstream — nicotine included. And that is exactly where snus headaches come from.

What happens is a so-called "nicotine flash". In other words, too much nicotine ends up in your bloodstream in too short a time. This mainly happens when your body isn't used to nicotine at all, or only to a small degree. The active substance then reaches your brain faster than it can handle, and unwelcome side effects can appear.

What does a nicotine shock from snus feel like?

You feel the pressure in your head building, your palms get sweaty and maybe even start to tremble slightly. You feel a little light-headed, and your stomach may chime in with some queasiness. Sound familiar? Then you know what a nicotine shock feels like.

Headaches from snus in particular are among the most common side effects reported by beginners.

Anyone who has been using nicotine for a longer time has built up a certain tolerance. The body, and with it the brain, is already accustomed to higher amounts of nicotine and isn't so easily "shocked" anymore. That mainly applies to regular smokers, though.

If you've only reached for the occasional cigarette so far, it's entirely possible that you'll get snus headaches when you start out.

The most common snus side effects at a glance:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Racing heartbeat

What to do about snus headaches? Here's how to get rid of them

Your head is pounding, your hands are sweating, the room is spinning a little: there it is, the nicotine shock from snus. So what now? You'll get rid of snus headaches and other side effects pretty quickly if you act fast.

First things first, take the snus pouch out of your mouth. What matters now are all the measures you'd take if your circulation were acting up. Here's our step-by-step guide to getting rid of snus headaches:

1. Take the snus pouch out of your mouth.
2. Briefly rinse your mouth with water to wash out any residue in your saliva.
3. Sit down.
4. Drink water.
5. Get some fresh air.

Snus headaches and other side effects are nothing more than short-lived accompanying symptoms. If you act quickly, they'll be a thing of the past within a few minutes.

Preventing snus headaches: choosing the right product is what counts

Snus headaches don't have to happen. One key to prevention is quite simply choosing the right product. Which brings up the first question: what has your nicotine use looked like so far? If you've smoked quite a lot, a nicotine flash won't hit you all that easily. After all, your body is used to the active substance.

If you've only smoked occasionally, though — in company or at parties, for example — the picture looks rather different. The same applies if you've only used light cigarettes or other products with a reduced nicotine content. Your body then has a lower tolerance threshold, and the likelihood of a nicotine shock goes up.

If you want to prevent snus headaches from the very start, or at least minimize the chances of them occurring, then pay attention to the nicotine content of the snus pouches. When in doubt, go for a lower-dose option first and work your way up slowly.

Buying snus at the Snus Shop: the right product for you

Here at the Snus Shop we offer you a range of snus products with different nicotine contents. Our light snus range from 1 to 5 mg of nicotine. Can't get strong enough for you? In our "The strongest snus in the world" category, the nicotine content goes up to 65 mg.

Needless to say, all of our products are tobacco-free and slim in shape. That makes for discreet use, no matter where you happen to be.

Sophie Neumärker

Editor

As an editor, Sophie has spent over 10 years producing thoroughly researched texts that inform readers about snus and nicotine pouches and deliver real added value. Her goal throughout is to present the market and its development transparently, providing orientation and supporting customers in their purchasing decisions.