Nicotine Pouches vs Nicotine Replacement Therapy Options
Nicotine Replacement Therapy options have been prescribed by healthcare professionals for many years now to people who are seeking to quit smoking. NRT is vital in this journey as it prevents nicotine withdrawals from setting in and will make the whole process easier.
Learn more about these as well as two other forms of nicotine replacement which, whilst are not prescribed by GPs, are proving to be a successful thing for people to use to ensure they quit smoking for good!
What Is Nicotine Replacement Therapy?
Nicotine Replacement Therapy, or NRT as it's abbreviated to, is the name given to medically approved products which can be prescribed by healthcare professionals to people who are seeking to quit smoking, but still provide nicotine in alternative forms.
It's always recommended that a person uses some form of NRT when quitting smoking as this will prevent nicotine withdrawals from occurring as the body will still be supplemented with nicotine, just in much smaller and concentrated doses, and of course, without the thousands of harmful chemicals that are found in combustible tobacco products.
There's many different forms of NRT available which GPs and Stop Smoking services can prescribe to patients seeking to quit smoking, and we list these below, as well as taking a look at another couple of options which are not available on prescription, but are proving to be successful with people looking to quit smoking.
Different Types of Nicotine Replacement Therapy
We've used the "Stop Smoking Aids" page from the NHS website which lists the following NRT products as options which are available on prescription;
Nicotine Patches
Arguably the most used form of NRT by people on their quitting journey is the trusty nicotine patch. Nicotine patches are placed on the skin, normally on the upper arm, and they gradually release nicotine from the patch which is absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream.
Nicotine patches come in a variety of different strengths which cater to people's individual needs, so heavy smokers would require a stronger strength patch, whereas light smokers would only need the lower strength patches.
There are different time based patches available as well, such as 24 hour patches which can be worn from waking through to sleeping and waking the following day, as well as 16 hour patches which can be more suited to those just wanting to wear a patch whilst they're awake and it's removed before going to sleep.
Nicotine Gum & Lozenges
Both of these NRT products are placed into the mouth and the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of your mouth and throat.
Nicotine gum can last for a longer period of time and the nicotine is gradually released and absorbed the more it is chewed.
Nicotine lozenges last for a shorter period of time, as these are like any type of normal lozenge that shrink in size the longer that they are in the mouth for.
These can be used for a fast then steadier release of nicotine absorption for a short period of time and are available in varying nicotine strengths.
Nicotine Inhaler
Nicotine Inhalers were designed to mimic the "hand to mouth" action associated with smoking a cigarette, as well as having something in the mouth that releases nicotine.
Some can be inhaled on much like a cigarette would be and the nicotine will release and then be absorbed through the mouth and throat lining.
Inhalers work faster than gum and lozenges, but not as fast as sprays. They're commonly available in 15mg strength which can be quite strong to those who were not heavy smokers.
Nicotine Mouth Spray & Nasal Spray
According to the NHS website, nicotine sprays are the quickest acting form of NRT available on the market.
The nasal spray as you probably already worked out, is sprayed into the nose and the spray is absorbed through the nose lining which is the quickest way to absorb nicotine.
It is used by spraying into the mouth and the nicotine is then absorbed through the mouth lining as well as the throat lining. Again, very fast acting and good for those looking for instant satisfaction.
E-Cigarettes
E-Cigarettes are not available on prescription from the NHS, but this doesn't mean that they're not being recommended by GPs and Stop Smoking services to people seeking to quit smoking. They're even mentioned on the NHS Stop Smoking website as an option for people to consider using.
Studies have been conducted which looked at how successful people were in quitting smoking by using various forms of NRT as well as E-Cigarettes, both with nicotine vape juice and without nicotine vape juice. And unsurprisingly, it was the people that were using an e-cigarette with nicotine containing e-liquid which were the most successfully in quitting and abstained from smoking for the longer period of time.
Using a vape kit like a pen vape kit mimics the effects of smoking as close as anything else available, the hand to mouth action, the inhaling and exhaling as well as the nicotine absorption being similar as well. And the thing about vaping is that it doesn't bring with it the thousands upon thousands of chemicals that are commonly associated with smoking tobacco products.
You can learn more about how nic pouches compare to smoking and vaping in our blog which looks at this topic. It's a commonly known fact that smoking seriously damages the throat and lungs, and this may be something that a person is conscious of when quitting and may want to preserve their lungs/throat from any further inhaling and exhaling, and this is where our star of the blog comes in to shine...
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Nicotine Pouches
Nicotine pouches are still relatively new on to the market, but in the last few years, there has been a steady incline in the amount of users of these white pouches both in the UK as well as globally.
Nicotine pouches can serve as a great way to consume nicotine without the need to inhale or exhale as nic pouches are a completely smoke and vapour free oral nicotine product.
They are available in various different nicotine strengths to cater to each individuals needs, whether they're a light or heavy smoker, there's a strength available for everyone and combined with this is the fact that they are available in an absolute plethora of flavours to choose from, ranging from mint to fruit, there's something available for everyone!
Nicotine pouches are used by placing a pouch into the mouth to rest between the upper lip and gum and from here, the nicotine is slowly released from inside the pouch and absorbed through the gum and into the bloodstream. This is a slow and steady release of nicotine and a pouch can be in place for anywhere from 10 minutes to 45 minutes and the nicotine will be absorbed for this whole duration.
Nic pouches also offer a level of discretion too, as they are commonly small in size and comfortably rests between the gum and lip without any bulging of the lip meaning people wouldn't even notice as and when a pouch is in place, and they can also be used anywhere which is perfect for anyone who's on the go, travelling or working in a busy environment that doesn't allow for frequent breaks.
Which Is Better - NRT or Nic Pouches?
Ultimately there is no fixed answer to the question of which alternative nicotine product is better or worse as the decision is guided by personal preference and lifestyle. Nic Pouches work in a very similar way to gum and lozenges but are less invasive as no sucking or chewing is required, they do not however replicate the hand to mouth action some ex-smokers crave so it ay be that a combination of vaping and nic pouches is the best fit for your journey.
Whichever option you decide you want to try, it is always best to pair the products with behavioural therapy too from a Stop Smoking Service as this has been proven to yield the highest percentage of successful quit attempts.
