Nicotine gum is an over-the-counter smoking cessation aid. It helps people to give up cigarettes or other tobacco products by providing relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms. According to PubMed Health, nicotine gum use should be tapered for about three months following discontinuation of tobacco products. It is always best to consult with your physician prior to beginning nicotine replacement therapy.
Pleasurable Feelings
Nicotine is addictive partly because it causes users to feel rewarded or satisfied, according to a 2008 article published in "The American Journal of Medicine." Drugs of addiction are believed to cause these reinforcing feelings by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Nicotine gum helps some people to stop smoking because it replicates the satisfaction smokers get from cigarettes.
Increased Alertness
Nicotine acts on the brain to increase alertness, concentration and cognition in people who use tobacco products. Similarly, nicotine gum use replicates these effects when used by people who are trying to give up smoking, says a 2009 study published in "Addictive Behaviors."
Increased Quitting Success
Nicotine gum and other forms of nicotine replacement therapy are highly effective tools to help people to quit smoking. A review published in "The Cochrane Library" analyzed the results of 132 studies that examined the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy on smoking cessation. The review found that nicotine gum and similar products increases the rate of quitting by 50 to 70 percent.
Side Effects
PubMed Health states that the most common side effects experienced by people who use nicotine gum include jaw soreness, mouth sores, dizziness, headache and nausea. These effects often go away as treatment continues.
References
- PubMed Health: Nicotine Gum
- "The American Journal of Medicine"; Neurobiology of Nicotine Addiction: Implications for Smoking Cessation Treatment; Neal L. Benowitz, M.D.; April 2008
- "Neurobiology of Addiction"; George F. Koob and Michel Le Moal; 2006
- "Addictive Behaviors"; Dependence on the nicotine gum in former smokers; Jean-François Etter; January 2009
- "The Cochrane Library"; Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation (Review); L.F. Stead et al.; July 2008
