Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Quitting Tobacco

Nicotine replacement therapy is useful for most people who are trying to quit smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapy may not be right for you if you are pregnant or have heart disease.

• Pregnancy. Using nicotine replacement products during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight. But smoking is more dangerous to you and your baby than nicotine replacement is.^{Reference 1} If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and want to stop smoking, talk to your doctor before you decide how to do it. During pregnancy, most doctors will recommend that you try other ways to stop before they will suggest a nicotine replacement product.
• Heart disease. Nicotine replacement therapy has been shown to be safe in most people with heart disease. But if you recently had a heart attack or if you have serious heart problems, such as an irregular or rapid heartbeat (Reference arrhythmia Opens New Window) or chest pain (Reference angina Opens New Window), consult your doctor before you use nicotine replacement products.

Doctors do not often recommend nicotine replacement therapy for people younger than 18, largely because the products have been tested only on adults. The side effects of nicotine replacement therapy for young people are unknown.

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