What nicotine replacement options are available in Australia?

Patches, chewing gum, lozenges, mouth spray and inhalators are all available over the counter. Some nicotine patches are also available on the PBS with a prescription.

Which NRT is most effective?

Combination therapy — a patch for a steady background level plus a fast-acting product such as gum, lozenge or spray for breakthrough cravings — generally performs better than any single product used alone.

How long should I use nicotine replacement therapy?

A typical course runs 8 to 12 weeks, stepping down in strength rather than stopping abruptly. Stopping after a fortnight is one of the most common reasons a quit attempt fails.

Can I use nicotine patches to quit vaping?

Yes. Patches deliver nicotine without the hand-to-mouth ritual that keeps vaping going, which makes them a sensible base. Discuss the right strength with a pharmacist, since vape nicotine intake is often higher than people assume.

Is NRT covered by the PBS?

Some nicotine patches are PBS-listed with a prescription, which substantially reduces the cost of a full course. Other forms are generally bought over the counter. Ask your pharmacist what applies to you.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Australia: Every Option Compared

Updated 26 August 2026 · 7 min read

Nicotine replacement therapy gives you nicotine without the smoke, so you can fight one battle at a time: the chemistry now, the habit next. It is available over the counter across Australia, and the single most common mistake is using too little of it.

The two families of NRT

Everything divides into slow and fast. Slow-acting means the patch: it delivers a steady background level of nicotine all day and stops the constant low-grade withdrawal. Fast-acting means gum, lozenges, mouth spray and inhalators: they work in minutes and are for the craving that has just arrived.

Used alone, either one is helpful. Used together, they cover both problems, and combination therapy is generally more effective than a single product.

Patches

Steady release over 16 or 24 hours. Nothing to remember during the day.
Standard strengths are 21mg, 14mg and 7mg over 24 hours. Heavier smokers usually start at the top strength.
16-hour patches are worn during waking hours and suit people whose sleep or dreams are disturbed by the 24-hour version.
Rotate the site daily to avoid skin irritation. Apply to clean, dry, hairless skin.
Weakness: no help with a sudden craving. That is what the fast-acting product is for.

Gum

2mg and 4mg strengths. The higher one suits people who smoke within 30 minutes of waking.
Chew slowly until you taste pepper, then park it against your cheek. Chewing it like normal gum causes hiccups, throat burn and nausea, and it will not work.
Good for people who want something to do with their mouth and hands.
Avoid acidic drinks — coffee, juice, soft drink — for 15 minutes before and during use, as they reduce absorption.

Lozenges and mini lozenges

Dissolve slowly in the mouth. No chewing technique to get wrong, which is why many people get on better with these than with gum.
Discreet — usable in meetings and places where gum is awkward.
Same acidic-drink rule applies.

Mouth spray and inhalators

Mouth spray is the fastest-acting option, useful when cravings hit hard and suddenly.
Inhalators replicate the hand-to-mouth ritual, which matters more than people expect — especially for anyone quitting vaping.
Both suit people whose cravings are intense but short.

How to choose, in one paragraph

If you smoke ten or more a day, start with a patch at the appropriate strength plus one fast-acting product for breakthrough cravings. If you smoke fewer than ten, a fast-acting product alone may be enough. If you are quitting vaping, favour the patch plus something that occupies your hands. If you have a heart condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take other medications, talk to a pharmacist or GP before starting.

Cost, and how to keep it down

NRT is sold over the counter at pharmacies and supermarkets, and some nicotine patches are available on the PBS with a prescription, which brings the cost down considerably for a full course. Some state Quit services also run free or subsidised starter programs — worth a call before you buy at full retail.

Set it against what you already spend. A pack-a-day habit in Australia costs more in three days than a week of patches.

The four mistakes that waste your money

Using too low a strength because a higher one feels excessive. Under-dosing is the most common reason NRT 'does not work'.
Stopping after two weeks. A full course runs 8 to 12 weeks with a planned step-down.
Using only fast-acting products and riding cravings all day.
Treating NRT as the whole plan. It handles the nicotine; something still has to handle the routine, the stress and the 2am craving.

Common questions

What nicotine replacement options are available in Australia?: Patches, chewing gum, lozenges, mouth spray and inhalators are all available over the counter. Some nicotine patches are also available on the PBS with a prescription.
Which NRT is most effective?: Combination therapy — a patch for a steady background level plus a fast-acting product such as gum, lozenge or spray for breakthrough cravings — generally performs better than any single product used alone.
How long should I use nicotine replacement therapy?: A typical course runs 8 to 12 weeks, stepping down in strength rather than stopping abruptly. Stopping after a fortnight is one of the most common reasons a quit attempt fails.
Can I use nicotine patches to quit vaping?: Yes. Patches deliver nicotine without the hand-to-mouth ritual that keeps vaping going, which makes them a sensible base. Discuss the right strength with a pharmacist, since vape nicotine intake is often higher than people assume.
Is NRT covered by the PBS?: Some nicotine patches are PBS-listed with a prescription, which substantially reduces the cost of a full course. Other forms are generally bought over the counter. Ask your pharmacist what applies to you.