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When to Use NRT If Cutting Back or Quitting Tobacco

April 27, 2022

By Pivot

close up photo of package of nicotine replacement therapy gum

min read

Let’s face it - quitting tobacco is HARD

It can even seem impossible without the help of aids like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

NRT gives you nicotine without the other harmful stuff in tobacco and can come in the form of patches, lozenges, gum, sprays, or inhalers. Using NRT is one of the most effective ways to quit tobacco, as it helps relieve mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. In fact, using NRTs can nearly double a person’s chance of quitting.

But does NRT work even if you’re not ready to quit right now? Keep reading!

NRT is not one-size-fits-all

Everyone is at a different stage when it comes to tobacco use. Maybe you’ve tried to quit and it just hasn’t stuck. And now, you might not even want to try anymore. Or maybe you just want to go about it in a different way.

Quitting cold turkey is not the only way. Instead, many have successfully used NRT to reduce their tobacco usage over time while they work their way down towards quitting completely.

Tobacco treatment professionals are increasingly recommending NRT for the purpose of cutting down on tobacco consumption, even when quitting isn’t the immediate goal. Reducing over time lets you ease into quitting without stopping all at once.

So what does it look like to use NRT to reduce?

Let’s take a look at Michael*, a Pivot member whose goal was to reduce from 15 cigarettes per day down to five. Working with his coach, he was able to come up with a reduction schedule that worked well for him.

Together, they discovered his triggers and routines, which included stress, driving, and work breaks. He decided to start with the cigarettes he smoked while driving and replaced those with nicotine lozenges, which cut him down to 10-11 cigarettes per day. After a week or so, Michael started using lozenges to replace the cigarettes he smoked during work breaks.

This brought him down to five or six cigarettes per day. This process of gradual reduction gave him time to learn and practice new ways to manage stress, and eventually, Michael was able to cut down to about one to two cigarettes per day.

Breaking up quitting or reducing into manageable chunks can help you feel in control of your tobacco use – instead of being controlled by it.

Using NRT during temporary quits

It’s a lot more common than you think to use NRT for reasons other than quitting forever. Maybe you just need a way to get through times when you can’t use tobacco, yet experience cravings or withdrawal symptoms. NRT can be useful for situations like going out to dinner with friends or getting through a long shift at work. Oftentimes, it can feel embarrassing to excuse yourself to use tobacco, and short-acting NRT like gum or nasal spray can be useful in moments like this. Perhaps you work 12-hour shifts and only take one break throughout your shift. Putting on a nicotine patch at the beginning of the day can give you a steady level of nicotine delivery to help prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Can you use NRT while smoking?

Using NRT while still using tobacco is safe as confirmed by several studies. However, the combination of NRT and tobacco use may increase the likelihood of getting too much nicotine.

Symptoms of getting too much nicotine include heart palpitations, dizziness, and nausea. Depending on how much tobacco you use, it may be best to use short-acting NRT such as gum or lozenges as part of a reduction plan to start. These do not contain as much nicotine as a long-acting replacement like the patch.

Which option is best for you?

Whether you are ready or not to quit or reduce your tobacco use, it’s always good to know your options for treatment and have a plan in place. It’s also important to remember that when it comes to quitting or reducing, tobacco cessation medications like NRT can’t do all the work.