[Medical Q&A] Is nicotine replacement therapy addictive?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Xiao Dan, Researcher, China-Japan Friendship Hospital

Many people believe that nicotine replacement therapy drugs (such as nicotine chewing gum, nicotine patches, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhalers, etc.) are addictive because they contain nicotine. In fact, this is not the case.

The main therapeutic principle of nicotine replacement therapy drugs is to provide users with low-dose, slow-release nicotine to relieve withdrawal symptoms. This method will first solve the physiological problems of tobacco addicts, and then gradually reduce the intake of nicotine through effective steps, thereby effectively reducing smokers' craving for tobacco and helping smokers quit smoking. The use of nicotine replacement therapy drugs can increase the success rate of quitting smoking. Due to different absorption pathways, the nicotine released by nicotine replacement therapy drugs is much lower than that of cigarettes in terms of speed and concentration. Therefore, under normal circumstances, users will not become addicted to nicotine replacement therapy drugs, and within the recommended dosage range, such drugs will not cause serious adverse reactions, but will help to reduce smokers' addictive behaviors and various withdrawal symptoms. It should be noted that if you have decided to use nicotine replacement therapy drugs to quit smoking, you need to use such drugs correctly under the guidance of a smoking cessation doctor, so that you can achieve better smoking cessation results.