Nicotine addiction is known for being one of the hardest things to break. It takes a great deal of willpower and support from family and friends to kick the habit, but fortunately there are many options available for people who need help quitting. Nicotine replacement therapy can be an important part of this process, but it is not meant to be used alone.
NRT has been shown to be effective in helping people to quit smoking in the short term (up to 3 months), and has no major safety concerns. It does not appear as effective in helping people to quit in the long term, and may be less effective than other treatments such as bupropion or varenicline.
Nicotine replacement therapy aims to relieve withdrawal symptoms while a person tries to stop smoking.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is any of several medications which deliver nicotine to the body. These products are intended to wean the user off of cigarettes, cigars and other sources of nicotine by providing smaller and smaller doses until the habit is kicked completely. NRTs come in many forms, including the patch, gum, nasal spray and inhaler.
Who should use NRT?
Anyone who has smoked for more than a few months likely has a physical dependence on nicotine in addition to the psychological addiction that comes along with smoking. If it’s been more than six weeks since you’ve quit without using a nicotine-replacement product, it’s probably too late to benefit from NRT.
How does it work?
NRT delivers controlled doses of nicotine into your body through various means. This nicotine doesn’t come with all of the harmful side effects present in cigarettes, such as tar and carbon monoxide.
NRT is available in different forms in vape store:
Inhalators – these look like plastic tubes with mouthpieces at each end; they deliver a nicotine vapour that’s absorbed through your mouth
Patches – these are stuck on your skin and release a steady amount of nicotine into your bloodstream over a 16-hour period
Nasal sprays – these work similarly to decongestant sprays, although they contain nicotine instead of decongestant; they’re sprayed into each nostril, where they’re absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal lining
Tablets – these are placed in your mouth between your cheek and gum, or under your tongue; they release nicotine into the blood through the lining of the mouth
Gum – this works in a similar way to tablets
Lozenges – these work in a similar way to gum
