Nicotine
3-[(2S)-1-Methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]pyridine
Drag to rotate. Structure from PubChem CID 89594.
Background
Listing
- Schedules
- Schedule 1 to 3, conditions apply
- Exceptions reach
- Schedule 0
- Source
- Consolidated Schedules 06 July 2026
Registered medicines
1 registered product listed
Counted through the register's ingredient index, which does not reach every record.
| Name | Brands | Dosages | Applicants | Registrations | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicotine | Nicorette, Nicorette mint, Nicorette microtab, +8 more | 1 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg, 5 mg, +6 more | 2 applicants | 26 registrations | S1 |
Regulatory status
Where S1 to S3 sits on the scale
Depends on which listing applies
At the least restrictive, Schedule 1: sold by a pharmacist, no doctor's prescription needed. At the most restrictive, Schedule 3: needs a doctor's prescription, dispensed by a pharmacist. The listings below say which applies to which form, strength or pack size.
Schedule S1 to S3, as the Consolidated Schedules list it.
Who may supply: A pharmacist dispensing against a written or verbal prescription from an authorised prescriber; a veterinarian, who may also prescribe, compound or dispense it directly; a medical practitioner or dentist, who may prescribe it and may compound or dispense it directly only if licensed under section 22C(1)(a); manufacturers and wholesalers may supply people who may lawfully possess it; and, for animal treatment, a person practising a para-veterinary profession, on a veterinarian's written or verbal instruction.
Consolidated Schedules listings for Nicotine
S3: Nicotine
- when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation or as a substitute for a tobacco product (as defined in the Tobacco Products Control Act, 1993, as amended);
- except when registered for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation and presented as nicotine gum or lozenges containing not more than 4 mg nicotine per piece; (S0)
- except when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation, when registered and presented as nicotine transdermal patches for continuous application to the skin in strengths up to an including 21mg/ 24 hours or 25 mg/ 16 hours; (S1)
- except when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation, when registered and presented as nicotine transdermal patches for continuous application to the skin in strengths containing more than 21mg/ 24 hours or 25 mg/ 16 hours; (S2)
- except when registered for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation and presented as nicotine gum or lozenges containing more than 4 mg nicotine per piece; (S2)
- except when registered as metered sprays containing not more than 1 mg per dose; (S1)
- except when registered as oral solid dosage forms containing not more than 2 mg; (S2)
- except when registered as inhalers containing not more than 10 mg per cartridge. (S2)
Consolidated Schedules 06 July 2026, lines 4004 to 4027
S2: Nicotine
- when registered for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation and presented as nicotine gum or lozenges containing more than 4mg nicotine per piece;
- when registered as oral solid dosage forms containing 2mg or less;
- when registered as inhalers containing 10mg or less per cartridge;
- when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation, when registered and presented as nicotine transdermal patches for continuous application to the skin in strengths containing more than 21mg/ 24 hours or 25 mg/ 16 hours;
- except when registered for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation and presented as nicotine gum or lozenges containing not more than 4mg nicotine per piece; (S0)
- except when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation, when registered and presented as nicotine transdermal patches for continuous application to the skin in strengths up to an including 21mg/ 24 hours or 25 mg/ 16 hours; (S1)
- except when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation or as a substitute for a tobacco product (as defined in the Tobacco Products Control Act, 1993, as amended). (S3)
Consolidated Schedules 06 July 2026, lines 2394 to 2415
S1: Nicotine
- when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation, when registered and presented as nicotine transdermal patches for continuous application to the skin in strengths up to an including 21mg/ 24 hours or 25 mg/ 16 hours;
- except when registered for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation and presented as nicotine gum or lozenges containing not more than 4 mg nicotine per piece; (S0)
- except when registered for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation and presented as nicotine gum or lozenges containing more than 4 mg nicotine per piece; (S2)
- except when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation, when registered and presented as nicotine transdermal patches for continuous application to the skin in strengths containing more than 21mg/ 24 hours or 25 mg/ 16 hours; (S2)
- when registered as metered sprays containing not more than 1 mg per dose or less;
- except when registered as oral solid dosage forms containing not more than 2 mg; (S2)
- except when registered as inhalers containing not more than 10 mg per cartridge; (S2)
- except when intended for human medicinal use as an aid to smoking cessation or as a substitute for a tobacco product (as defined in the Tobacco Products Control Act, 1993, as amended). (S3)
Consolidated Schedules 06 July 2026, lines 890 to 917
This is an informational summary of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 and its 2017 General Regulations. It is not medical advice and not legal advice. Always check the medicine's label, which carries the schedule number inside a square border, or ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.