There are so many nicotine options in the market that it’s sometimes difficult to choose the best alternative. Smokers usually prefer vaping because it is a process where nicotine is inhaled in a way very similar to smoking. However, there are other nicotine intake methods that have been very popular such as nicotine patches and nicotine gums. What’s the best nicotine intake method? Which method is the most effective to help you quit smoking? Nicotine gum vs vaping? Nicotine patches vs vaping? In this blog post, we’re going to explain the pros and cons of each method.

What’s a Nicotine Gum?

 Nicotine gums are the first nicotine replacement therapy ever developed.
Nicotine gums are the first nicotine replacement therapy ever developed.

Nicotine gums are the first nicotine replacement therapy ever developed. It was developed by Nicorette, a Swedish brand back in the 1970s (1978). Nicorette first developed chewing gums but nowadays they have many other products such as patches, nicotine sprays, inhalators, tablets and nasal sprays.  

Swedes know very well about nicotine absorption through the soft tissue of the mouth. It was in Sweden were snus originated back in the eighteenth century. Snus is a moist tobacco powder that is placed under the gums and hence the nicotine is absorbed through the soft tissue of the mouth.

Nicotine gums are often promoted as a 12-week program combined with behavioral support for better results. The efficacy of nicotine gums depends on many factors, included the nicotine strength. For instance, there are some studies that found higher rates of smoke cessation in heavy smokers who used 4 mg nicotine gums compared with 2 mg nicotine gums.

Nicotine gums are a good nicotine intake method. For example, nicotine gums are great if you need nicotine in public places. However, it has also some disadvantages. The most common disadvantages are:

1. You could get a quick nicotine uptake. This may cause you dizziness and other side effects such as hiccups, headache and nausea.

2. If you swallowed the gum you could have a terrible stomachache.

3. It’s not recommended for pregnant woman as nicotine could be harmful to the fetus.

4. Finally, do not smoke if you’re using nicotine gums! You risk getting a nicotine overdose.

NRT and Vaping: Nicotine Gum vs Vaping

Nicotine gums are a very expensive nicotine replacement therapy. This is definitely a disadvantage compared with vaping. For instance, you can buy vape pens that aren’t that costly and that will be very effective as a nicotine delivery method. So, nicotine gum vs vaping? I would say that vaping has many advantages compared with nicotine gums. In addition, vaping mimics perfectly the tobacco smoking process, which means that many smokers have less difficulties to switch from tobacco smoking to vaping. Furthermore, nicotine gums could affect your gums.

Vaping is both more cost-effective and with fewer side effects than nicotine gums. Moreover, the most common side effect of vaping is a dry throat that could be easily managed by staying hydrated. On the other hand, you need to learn how to chew a nicotine gum because if you don’t park the gum, then the nicotine will be released in your saliva and you will swallow it which could cause painful stomachaches and other side effects.

What’s a Nicotine Patch?

Nicotine patches were one of the first nicotine replacement therapies and they were approved by the FDA in 1991.
Nicotine patches were one of the first nicotine replacement therapies and they were approved by the FDA in 1991.

Nicotine patches were one of the first nicotine replacement therapies and they were approved by the FDA in 1991. However, nicotine patches weren’t available until beginning of 1996. In addition, they are generally considered less effective than nicotine gums. All the nicotine replacement therapies are considered to have the same level of efficacy as smoking cessation therapies.  

The best advantage of nicotine patches is that it provides a controlled dose of nicotine through the day. However, as with other nicotine replacement therapies, smoking or chewing nicotine gums while using nicotine patches can lead to nicotine overdose.

It’s possible to overdose from nicotine. For example, people who work in harvesting nicotine leaves can develop a form of nicotine poisoning known as Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS).

Nicotine patches have an advantage over other nicotine replacement therapies. The advantage is that more people use nicotine patches correctly than any other nicotine replacement therapy.

Nicotine Patch vs Vaping

In a study called “A Randomized Trial of E-Cigarettes versus Nicotine-Replacement Therapy” , a group of 886 were assigned different nicotine replacement methods with different success rates.  The participants had to use the assigned nicotine replacement therapies (including a group that was assigned with e-cigarette kits) for three months. The study shown that e-cigarette participants had a one-year abstinence rate of 18% while nicotine patches had a one-year abstinence rate of 9.9%. In addition, the candidates who used e-cigarettes were more likely to use their assigned kit than those in the nicotine replacement therapies.

In other words, vaping has been more successful than any other replacement therapy used for this study.

Vaping

 Vaping has a one-year abstinence rate of 18% while nicotine replacement therapies have a one-year abstinence rate of 9.9%.
Vaping has a one-year abstinence rate of 18% while nicotine replacement therapies have a one-year abstinence rate of 9.9%.

We have written a lot of articles about vaping and why it’s the best alternative. In addition, there are studies that prove its efficacy. Furthermore, vaping is the method that most closely resembles smoking, but without the harmful inhalation of tar and other carcinogenic substances.

Vape has been widely marketed in the UK and there are vape stores in two UK hospitals. This is part of the hospitals ‘ policy to ban smoking around their grounds. In addition, vaping does not pose a risk to “second-hand vapers”. In other words, there is no evidence that it is harmful to passive vapers.

Conclusion: Nicotine Gum vs Vaping and Nicotine Patch vs Vaping

There are many nicotine replacements therapies. The first nicotine replacement therapy was developed by the Swedish brand Nicorette in the form of nicotine gums. In the 1990s, nicotine patches became a popular alternative to tobacco smoking. There are pros and cons with each nicotine replacement therapy which means that we cannot talk about one being better than the other.

Vaping has become a popular option since its creation. Moreover, according to one study, vaping is more effective than nicotine replacement therapies. For instance, vaping has a one-year abstinence rate of 18% while nicotine replacement therapies have a one-year abstinence rate of 9.9%.

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