| Nicotine replacement therapy (abbreviated NRT) is the remedial administration of nicotine to the body by means other than tobacco, usually as part of smoking cessation. The primary benefit of nicotine replacement therapy is that it prevents cravings in a smoker whilst allowing them to abstain from tobacco—and thus avoid the harmful effects of smoking. NRT enables the easier overcoming of nicotine addiction because it reduces the craving to smoke.
The most common forms of NRT are: Nicotine gum is a type of chewing gum that delivers nicotine to the body. The nicotine is delivered to the bloodstream via absorption by the tissues of the mouth. A nicotine patch is a transdermal patch that releases nicotine into the body through the skin. Research has shown that the patch approximately doubles success rates over placebo treatment. A nicotine lozenge is a tablet (usually flavored) that contains a dose of nicotine which dissolves slowly in the mouth to release the nicotine. The nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth and enters the blood vessels. Nicotine inhalers are metered-dose inhaler that administer nicotine through the lungs are devices that delivers a specific amount of medication to the lungs, in the form of a short burst of aerosolized medicine that is inhaled by the patient. |
