Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Dose Calculator
Calculate the recommended NRT dosage based on your smoking habits to support quitting. Covers patches, gum, lozenges, and combination NRT.
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Nicotine Replacement Therapy Guide
What should I know about Choosing NRT Dose?
NRT dose is based on the number of cigarettes smoked daily and how dependent you are. Heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes/day): high-strength NRT (21mg patch, 4mg gum). Light to moderate (under 20/day): standard strength (14mg patch, 2mg gum). Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence: time to first cigarette is the strongest single indicator. First cigarette within 5 minutes indicates high physical dependence — use high-strength NRT regardless of daily cigarette count. Underdosing is a common reason NRT fails to control cravings effectively, which is why matching the strength to your actual level of dependence matters more than starting conservatively.
What's the difference between Patch and Fast-Acting NRT?
Patches: release nicotine slowly over 16 or 24 hours. Provide a stable baseline nicotine level, preventing withdrawal throughout the day. 24-hour patches: better for morning cravings. 16-hour patches: fewer sleep disturbances. Gum, lozenges, inhalator, nasal spray, mouth spray: fast-acting, used for breakthrough cravings. Combination NRT: patch provides baseline + fast-acting product for cravings. Combination NRT is approximately 30-40% more effective than single NRT. The NICE guideline recommends combination NRT as the preferred first-line approach for most people trying to quit, rather than relying on a single product alone.
How to Use NRT Effectively?
Patches: apply to clean, dry, hairless skin — upper arm, chest, or back. Rotate sites daily to prevent skin irritation. Do not smoke while using a patch — nicotine overload risk (nausea, dizziness). Gum: chew-and-park technique — chew a few times until tingly, then park between cheek and gum for 30 seconds, then chew again. Do not swallow — nicotine is absorbed through the mouth lining, not the stomach. Duration: most guidelines recommend 8-12 weeks minimum. Stopping NRT too soon is a common cause of relapse, since nicotine dependence and cravings can persist well beyond the first few weeks of quitting.
What's the difference between NRT and Varenicline vs Bupropion?
NRT: safest, available over-the-counter, effective (doubles quit rates vs placebo). Varenicline (Champix/Chantix): prescription only. Most effective pharmacological aid — 3× more effective than placebo, 1.5× more than NRT alone. Acts on nicotine receptors to reduce both withdrawal and the pleasure from smoking. Bupropion (Zyban): antidepressant that also reduces cravings — prescription only. 2× more effective than placebo. Combination of pharmacotherapy plus behavioural support is consistently the most effective approach for quitting long-term, far more so than any single method used alone.