Nicotine Replacement Therapy in India: Gum, Lozenges and Patches
Nicotine replacement therapy, or NRT, is the quit-smoking treatment you can find in many Indian pharmacies. It gives your body nicotine without tobacco smoke, which takes the edge off withdrawal while you break the habits around smoking. Then, over a period of weeks, you reduce the dose until you don't need it.
We sell heated tobacco, and NRT is a completely different thing. It is a medical treatment designed to help you stop using nicotine. Heated tobacco is a tobacco product and is not a quit aid. If you want to stop, NRT is a far better place to look than anything on our shelves.
How NRT helps
Most of the difficulty in the first weeks of quitting is withdrawal: cravings, irritability, restlessness, trouble concentrating. NRT gives a steady or on-demand dose of nicotine, lower and slower than smoking, so those symptoms are milder. That leaves you free to deal with the routines and triggers, such as the chai break, the after-meal cigarette, the stressful meeting, without fighting withdrawal at the same time.
The three forms you'll find
| Form | How to use it | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gum | Chew slowly until you notice a tingle or peppery taste, then park it between cheek and gum; repeat for about half an hour | Sudden cravings, giving your mouth something to do | Chewing it like normal gum releases nicotine too fast and can cause hiccups, heartburn or nausea |
| Lozenge | Let it dissolve slowly, moving it around your mouth; don't chew or swallow it | Discreet use at work or in meetings | Sucking or chewing it quickly can upset your stomach |
| Patch | Apply one a day to clean, dry, hairless skin, changing the site each day | Steady background nicotine all day | Skin irritation; some people find a patch worn overnight disturbs sleep, so ask your pharmacist about removing it at bedtime |
One practical tip for gum and lozenges: avoid acidic drinks such as coffee, fruit juice and fizzy drinks for about 15 minutes before and while using them, because acidity can reduce how much nicotine your mouth absorbs.
Combination NRT
Many people do best with two forms together: a patch for steady background nicotine, plus gum or lozenges for sudden cravings. Cochrane analyses of clinical trials have found that combining a patch with a fast-acting form helps more people quit than using one form alone. Ask a pharmacist or doctor how to combine them for your level of smoking.
Getting the dose right
The right strength depends on how much you smoke. Heavier smokers usually need a higher strength to start with. A common reason NRT seems "not to work" is using too little of it, too irregularly. Tell the pharmacist or doctor honestly how many cigarettes you smoke and how soon after waking you have the first one; that helps them choose the right starting strength.
How long to use it
NRT is meant to be temporary. UK stop-smoking guidance generally suggests a course of around 8 to 12 weeks, reducing the strength or the number of pieces over time, though some people need longer. Follow the instructions on the pack and the advice of your pharmacist or doctor.
Prescription options
If NRT isn't enough on its own, there are prescription medicines that don't contain nicotine:
- Varenicline reduces cravings and makes smoking less satisfying.
- Bupropion reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Both need a doctor's prescription and supervision. A doctor will check whether they suit you.
Check with a doctor first if
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You have a heart condition, have recently had a heart attack or stroke, or have high blood pressure.
- You have diabetes, kidney or liver problems, or stomach ulcers.
- You are under 18.
- You take other regular medication.
Pair NRT with support
NRT works better alongside support. In India, that means:
- The National Tobacco Quit Line: free on 1800-112-356, listed on the Ministry of Health's National Tobacco Control Programme site.
- mCessation: give a missed call to 011-22901701 to receive text-message support.
- Your doctor or a hospital tobacco cessation clinic. See our city guides, such as quitting smoking in Mumbai, for local cessation centres.
Our quit smoking guide for India helps you plan a quit day, and our guide to what happens when you quit shows what to expect week by week.
Why NRT isn't the same as heated tobacco
| NRT | Heated tobacco | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Treatment to help you stop | A way of continuing to use tobacco |
| Contains tobacco | No | Yes |
| Used for | A set period, reducing over time | Indefinitely |
| Inhaled | No | Yes |
Heated tobacco is not risk-free and is not a quit aid. WHO recommends NRT, quitlines and text-message support as part of proven quit methods; it does not endorse heated tobacco for quitting.
Questions
Can I buy nicotine gum in India?
Yes. Nicotine gum, lozenges and patches are sold in Indian pharmacies. Ask the pharmacist which strength suits you.
How do I use nicotine gum properly?
Chew slowly until you notice a tingle, park it between cheek and gum, and repeat for about half an hour. Don't chew it like normal gum.
Can I use a nicotine patch and gum together?
Yes, that's combination NRT, and it helps more people quit than one form alone. Ask a pharmacist or doctor how to combine them.
How long should I use NRT?
Usually around 8 to 12 weeks, stepping the dose down over time. Follow the pack instructions and your pharmacist's advice.
