Nicotine Myths, Effects, Risks, and How to Get Help

Nicotine Myths, Effects, Risks, and How to Get Help Addiction Nicotine Use Nicotine Withdrawal Print What to Know About Nicotine Use By Terry Martin facebook twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial policy Terry Martin Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 01, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on September 01, 2019 Joegend/ Getty Images More in Addiction Nicotine Use Nicotine Withdrawal After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Smoking-Related Diseases The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand What Does Nicotine Do? Common Side Effects Signs of Use Myths & Common Questions Addiction & Withdrawal How to Get Help View All Back To Top Nicotine, a stimulant found in tobacco plants, is one of the most heavily used drugs in the United Statesâ€"and its just as addictive as cocaine or heroin, according to the surgeon general. Nicotine products are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). While nicotine is legal, it is illegal to sell or distribute nicotine-containing products to people under 18. Cigarette smoking is the primary source of nicotine, with one pack of cigarettes providing some 250 hits of the extremely addictive substance. Fewer people over the age of 18 are smoking today than ever before, but it still remains the most preventable cause of death in the United States accounting for 480,000 deaths annually. Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2017 indicate that 14% of the U.S. adult population smoke cigarettes.?? Also Known As: Nicotine products include cigarettes (also known as smokes), pipes, cigars (sometimes referred to as stogies), chewing tobacco (also known as dip or chew), snuff, hookahs, and e-cigarettes (also known as e-cigs and vapes). Drug Class: Nicotine is classified as a stimulant. Common Side Effects: Nicotine is known to cause decreased appetite, heightened mood, increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, diarrhea, better memory, and increased alertness. How to Recognize Nicotine Nicotine is rarely sold as a singular product, rather its most often found as an ingredient in tobacco products like cigarettes and some smoking cessation products like nicotine gum and patches. Nicotine is sold as a liquid for use in e-cigarettes.The FDA requires warning statement labels on tobacco products: “WARNING: This product contains  nicotine.  Nicotine  is an addictive chemical.” What Does Nicotine Do? When a person inhales cigarette smoke, the nicotine in the smoke is rapidly absorbed into the blood and starts affecting the brain within 10 seconds. Once there, nicotine triggers a number of chemical reactions that create temporary feelings of pleasure and concentration. But these sensations are short-lived, subsiding within minutes. These chemical reactions include the release of catecholamines such as adrenaline, the fight or flight hormone. Physically, adrenaline increases heart rate and blood pressure. When this occurs, smokers may experience rapid, shallow breathing and the feeling of a racing heartbeat. Adrenaline also tells the body to dump excess glucose into the bloodstream. Nicotine also curbs appetite and may contribute to weight loss in complex ways. What the Experts Say Many researchers are beginning to question whether nicotine is any more harmful than a daily dose of caffeine. To date, there have been studies showing positive effects of nicotine, including decreased tension and increased thinking, as well as the stimulants potential in warding off cognitive decline into Alzheimers, delaying the progression of Parkinsons disease, and as a therapeutic approach for ADHD and schizophrenia. Still, health professionals continue to warn about the dangers of nicotine, especially when used by adolescents whose brains are still developing (until age 25). Nicotine impacts the parts of the brain that play a role in attention, memory, learning, and brain plasticity. While cigarette smoking is on the decline, vaping and e-cigarettes are on the rise. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that “e-cigarettes are threatening to addict a new generation to nicotine” and recommends increasing the minimum age to purchase e-cigarettes to 21 nationwide.  ?? Off-Label and Approved Uses Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was  the first pharmacological treatment approved by the FDA for smoking cessation. In fact, studies show that using the nicotine patch can double the rate of a persons smoking cessation success, especially when combined with support. There are a variety of available NRT products, including: Nicotine patchNicotine gumNicotine nasal sprayNicotine inhalerNicotine lozenges Pros and Cons of Nicotine Replacement Therapy Common Side Effects Nicotine causes a range of effects on both the body and mind, including: Decreased appetiteHeightened moodIncreased activity in the intestinesIncreased production of saliva and phlegmIncreased heart rateIncreased blood pressureSweatingNauseaDiarrheaBetter memoryIncreased alertness Signs of Use If your loved one is smoking cigarettes, you’ll likely be able to smell it on them. Detecting vaping can be a bit more difficultâ€"but there are still some signs of use: Devices: E-cigarettes or vape pens can look like a thumb drive, pen, or stylus, with holes on each end.Irritability: This is a classic sign of withdrawal.Sweet smells: Vapor juice is often flavored, so if you suddenly catch a whiff of fruit punch or bubble gum (and there’s no candy around) it could be a red flag.Nosebleeds: Vaping can dry out the nasal passages and cause nose bleeds.Drinking more liquids: The vaporized liquid in e-cigs contains propylene glycol, which attracts and holds water molecules from the mouth, causing constant dry mouth. Can You Overdose on Nicotine? Nicotine is poisonous and overdose is possible, though not common. Most often, nicotine poisoning occurs when children mistake nicotine gum or lozenges for candy.If you or someone you care about experiences the following signs of nicotine overdose, call 911 or poison control (800-222-1222) immediately:Difficulty breathingVomitingFaintingHeadacheWeaknessIncreased or decreased heart rate Myths Common Questions Many people think that nicotine causes cancerâ€"but the jury is still out. Nicotine is certainly a harmful, addictive substance but it is mainly the tar and the other toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke that cause cancer. Research does suggest that nicotine can increase the risk of cancer due to its damaging effects on DNA, although the risk is much lower than those from smoking cigarettes.  A study by the National Cancer Institute found that those who were most addicted to nicotineâ€"smoking a cigarette within five minutes of waking upâ€"had the greatest risk of developing lung cancer. Another myth is that you can get hooked on the nicotine in smoking cessation products like the patch or nicotine gum or lozenges. While possible, most people find it easy to get off nicotine medicine after several months. In general, these products deliver nicotine to your body more slowly.   Many teens think that using e-cigarettes is safer, however, they still contain high levels of nicotine. The brand JUUL packs perhaps the most potent dose: one pod contains roughly 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine and the product claims to deliver the addictive substance 2.7 times faster than other e-cigarettes.?? Tolerance, Dependence, and Withdrawal Nicotine is extremely addictive and, when used regularly, your body and mind learn to expect a certain amount of nicotine each dayâ€"and if it doesnt get it, withdrawal can be intense. You can quickly build a tolerance to nicotine, needing more to reach the desired effect. This is one reason why its so hard (but not impossible) to quit smoking. How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System? Nicotine (in the form of a cigarette, pipe, or e-cigarette smoke) is mostly absorbed into the body through the lungs as well as the membranes in the mouth and throat. It can also be absorbed in your gastrointestinal tract (via chewing tobacco, nicotine gum, and lozenges) or your skin if you use a nicotine patch. Nicotine is mainly metabolized in the liver and is excreted via urine through the kidneys as well as in feces. How long it stays in your system depends on many factors, including age, weight, type, frequency of use, and hydration and physical activity levels. That said, the estimated timeframe is as follows: Urine test: Two to four daysBlood test: Two to four daysSaliva test: One to four daysHair follicle test: Up to 90 days Many routine drug tests screen for nicotine. How Long Nicotine Stays in Your System Addiction Nicotine is a highly addictive substance thats found in all tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, hookahs, e-cigarettes, and other vaping devices. Nicotine activates the same reward pathways in the brain that other drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines do, although to a lesser degree. Research has shown that nicotine increases the level of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and well-being.?? The Truth About Smoking Pleasure and Nicotine Addiction Withdrawal As the nicotine level drops in the blood, people may feel edgy and agitatedâ€"the start of nicotine withdrawal. The acute effects of nicotine wear off within minutes, so people who smoke must continue dosing themselves frequently throughout the day to maintain the pleasurable effects of nicotine and to prevent nicotine withdrawal, which causes a host of physical and psychological symptoms: Cravings to smokeIrritability, crankinessInsomniaFatigueInability to concentrateHeadacheCoughSore throatConstipation, gas, stomach painDry mouthSore tongue and/or gumsPostnasal dripTightness in the chest 7 Tips for Surviving Nicotine Withdrawal How to Get Help Statistics show that only a small percentage (approximately 7%) of people who try to quit smoking without support are still smoke-free a year later. However, those with a quit program in place that includes education about nicotine addiction and a solid support group, do much better. Whether you prefer to quit cold turkey or choose to use a quit aid to help you stop smoking, its important to recognize that recovery from nicotine addiction is a process of gradual release over time. Quitting nicotine doesnt happen overnight, but with perseverance, freedom from nicotine addiction is doable and will pay you back with benefits that go well beyond what you can probably imagine. Quit Smoking and Make It Stick!