Guide · Australia

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

NRT gives you nicotine without the smoke or tar — and roughly doubles your chance of quitting for good vs willpower alone. Here's how to use it properly in Australia.

What is NRT?

NRT delivers a steady, lower dose of nicotine through the skin or mouth. It takes the edge off withdrawal so you can break the smoking habit without fighting cravings on hard mode.

The five types you can buy in Australia

  • Patches (16h or 24h): stick one on in the morning. Steady background dose. Best base layer.
  • Gum (2mg / 4mg): chew briefly then park between cheek and gum. Fast relief for cravings.
  • Lozenges: dissolve slowly in mouth. Discreet, no chewing.
  • Mouth spray: fastest acting — works in about 60 seconds. Best for sudden, intense urges.
  • Inhalator: plastic mouthpiece with a nicotine cartridge. Replaces the hand-to-mouth habit.

The single biggest tip: combine two

Use a patch + a fast-acting form (gum, spray, or lozenge). Patch handles the background nicotine, the fast-acting form handles the spikes. Combination NRT beats single NRT in every major Australian and Cochrane review.

What it costs in Australia (2026)

  • Over-the-counter at any pharmacy or supermarket: ~$30–$50 / week.
  • PBS subsidy available with a prescription from your GP — drops to ~$7.70 (concession) or ~$31.60 (general) per script.
  • Some states offer free starter packs through Quitline (13 7848).

How long to use it

8–12 weeks at full dose, then step down. Stopping too early is the #1 reason NRT "doesn't work" for people. Treat it like antibiotics — finish the course.

Common myths

  • "NRT is just swapping addictions." Nicotine on its own isn't what causes cancer — tar and combustion products do.
  • "You can overdose." Modern NRT delivers far less nicotine than smoking. Mild nausea = dose too high, drop a level.
  • "It's expensive." A pack-a-day smoker spends ~$280/week. NRT is ~10% of that.

If NRT isn't enough

Talk to your GP about prescription quit aids (varenicline, bupropion). Or try cold turkey if you prefer no medication. Either way, pair it with structured support — see our pack-year calculator to gauge your exposure first.