Nicotine replacement therapy and other stop smoking medicines

There is a range of different treatments available that can double your chances of going smokefree. In fact, if you use NHS support and a stop smoking medicine to help manage your cravings you are up to four times more likely to be successful!

Is nicotine replacement right for you?

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) works differently to cigarettes. It does not contain toxic chemicals like tar or carbon monoxide, and does not cause cancer. NRT is suitable for most people, however you should check with your doctor if you are pregnant, have a heart or circulatory condition or if you take regular medication.

There are lots of different products to choose from. The descriptions below will help you to understand your choices and we recommend that you speak to your doctor for further medical advice.

Depressed mood, that in rare cases includes suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, may be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. Smoking cessation, with or without medication, has also been associated with the exacerbation of underlying psychiatric illness (e.g. depression). If you are concerned about this, please seek medical advice or talk to your Stub Buddy.

Product Type	How it works
Nicotine gum	When you chew nicotine gum, the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth.
Nicotine patches	Nicotine patches work well for most regular smokers and can be worn round the clock (24 hour patches) or just during the day (16 hour patches).
Microtabs	These are small tablets containing nicotine which dissolve quickly under your tongue.
Lozenges	Lozenges are sucked slowly to release the nicotine and take about 20-30 minutes to dissolve.
Inhalators	Inhalators look like a plastic cigarette. The inhalator releases nicotine vapour which gets absorbed through your mouth and throat. If you miss the 'hand to mouth' aspect of smoking, these may suit you.
Nicotine nasal spray	The spray delivers a swift and effective dose of nicotine through the lining of your nose.

Read the full Smokefree article about NRT and other stop smoking medicines.