Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the term used to describe the range of products that are able to deliver a dose of nicotine to the body safely.

NRT products available include:

Nicotine patch
Nicotine gum
Nicotine lozenge
Nicotine inhalator
Nicotine microtab and
Nicotine nasal spray

They all work by giving your body enough nicotine to reduce the withdrawal symptoms experienced by people giving up smoking.

Most smokers are addicted to nicotine (a very addictive drug) and when they stop smoking their mind and body react to not having the regular supplies of nicotine they were getting when smoking. NRT works by giving your body some nicotine (normally less than you would get when smoking cigarettes) and so reducing the nicotine withdrawal symptoms of stopping smoking.

There is no clear evidence yet that any one form of nicotine replacement is more effective at treating withdrawal than others: they are all equally helpful at increasing the chances of successfully stopping.

There are many NRT products available. The information contained in the links below may help you decide which nicotine products you would like to try, but for individual advice you should talk to your pharmacist, GP or specialist smoking cessation service.

If you have tried a nicotine product during a previous attempt to stop smoking and got on well with it, then you should consider using it, or another nicotine product, again.

If you have tried to stop smoking using NRT before but didn't manage it, don't dismiss the idea of using NRT again. NRT isn't a magic cure and if you have tried to stop smoking unsuccessfully before it is unlikely that it is because the NRT didn't work (unless you weren't using the product properly).

NRT is available to adults from chemists and, in the case of nicotine gum, from other shops as well.

At the time of writing, some types of NRT are available on NHS prescription: NiQuitin CQ skin patches and Nicorette microtabs, inhalators and lozenges. It is likely that during 2001 all NRT products will be made available on NHS prescription.

If you buy NRT it is likely to cost you between £10 and £20 for a weeks supply depending upon which product you buy. For full details of NRT manufacturers, products and prices click here.

Depending on the policy of your local specialist stop smoking service NRT may be free for up to four weeks for those eligible to free prescriptions. Contact your local service for details.

Research has shown that nicotine patches should be used fully for 12 weeks after stopping smoking and then can be stopped without gradually decreasing the dose.

Other NRT treatments should be used for 8 - 12 weeks, with a gradual reduction in dose over the last 2 weeks.

For information on:

the side effects of NRT click here.

NRT and pregnancy click here.

For full details of NRT manufacturers products & pricing click here.