A strong consensus among 5 experts that nicotine replacement therapy is safe in the long-term. One known side effect is irritation in the mouth but the benefits far outweigh the risks for smokers. This consensus is based on 5 experts answers from this question: Is long term use of nicotine replacement therapies (sprays, gum and patches) harmful to your health?
Dr Shellie Boudreau a neuroscientist from Allboarg Univeristy in Denmark says Nicotine replacement therapies, such as sprays, gum or patches aim to reduce the addictive properties by slowly releasing smaller doses of nicotine into the bloodstream. The amount released in nicotine replacement products is much less than a traditional cigarette. By way of the lungs, nicotine reaches the brain within the first minute when inhaled whereas replacement therapies take a longer time (e.g. 10 to 20 min). Indeed, the slower release helps curb the craving and does offer health benefits over the fast acting vapor or inhaled forms.
However application of nicotine to the mouth has consequences Dr Boudreau says. Nicotine is a known irritant and when applied to the tongue, for example, can cause a burning sensation similar to a chili pepper. This is why many nicotine replacement products add cooling agents like menthol she says. Research shows that long-term exposure to nicotine can “alter our sense of temperature in the mouth as it can lead to irritation of the mouth, throat and digestion system”. One potential side-effect that is known so far.
Professor Hayden McRobbie, an expert in smoking withdrawal from Queen Mary University of London says the majority of long-term nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) users are ex-smokers, who require the ongoing NRT use to keep them from relapsing back to smoking. There are unlikely to be any adverse effects of using gums etc long-term.
Dr Karl Erik Lund a tobacco addiction expert from the Norweigan Institute of Public health says: “The vast majority of the harm from smoking is caused by the burning of tobacco and not nicotine. yet Despite being an established treatment, there is considerable worry among potential users and quit-smoking councilors regarding the safety of long-term NRT use, possibly due to misunderstandings about the role of nicotine separate from smoked tobacco.
Studies find that long-term NRT use is safe and any associated health risks small compared with continued smoking. Only a small percentage of ex-smokers continue to use NRT beyond the standard length of 3 months so there are not many studies available. The medical consensus seem to be that long-term NRT appears to be a safe and effective way to reduce exposure to combustible nicotine.
Long-term use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been approved in several countries for smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit smoking. Side effects from using NRT are related to the type of product, and include skin irritation from patches and irritation to the inside of the mouth from gum and tablets. There is no evidence that NRT increases the risk of heart attacks.”
If you are a smoker avoid the cancer-forming chemicals by switching to a nicotine gum or patch. Long-term science says the benefits outweigh the risks.
Learn more with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine:
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