Is your over-the-counter medication not working quite as it should? It might not just be down to the dosage—it could be because you’re still smoking.
Whether you’ve been a long-term smoker or you’re trying to quit using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), nicotine might be interfering with how well your medications work.
Keep reading as we dive deeper into how nicotine can affect your meds and what you can do about it.
Nicotine and Coughing
If you’re coughing and ignoring it as a sign to quit smoking, you’re likely setting yourself up for throat problems.
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That persistent cough could be due to your throat being dehydrated and not properly lubricated, making you cough throughout the day.
Studies show nicotine irritates your trachea and airways, which only makes the coughing worse.
It’s best to stop smoking straight away, especially if you’re dealing with a dry cough or any other respiratory issues.
If you’re using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), chat with your GP for advice on how to manage it while your throat is still feeling uncomfortable.
Nicotine and ADHD
ADHD is often associated with lower dopamine levels, which is why smoking can provide a quick, temporary boost in focus and mood.
That’s why, if you’ve tried nicotine and have ADHD, it’s easy to find yourself hooked for a long time.
Now, you might be wondering if nicotine clashes with your ADHD medication.
The short answer is no, but experts do warn that regularly smoking nicotine can make it much harder for someone with ADHD to quit.
To put it simply, even if your ADHD meds aren’t directly affected by smoking, it’s best to avoid nicotine altogether if you’re not already smoking.
If you’ve been smoking and are now on ADHD meds, try quitting and speak to your GP for support.
Nicotine and Anxiety
Smoking has been linked to anxiety and depression by a number of studies, but is nicotine involved in it?
Studies suggest that nicotine and anxiety medication have no direct correlation. Instead, it’s the chemicals in cigarette smoke that can affect the anxiolytics you’re taking.
One reason for this is the way chemicals in smoke increase the metabolism of anxiety medication in a smoker’s body – which leads to unnecessary increases in dosage. Cigarette smoke also affects your antipsychotic, hypnotic, and insulin medications in the same way.
So, if you want your medications to help with your anxiety, quit smoking. And, before using any NRT patch or other tools, be sure to see a GP for the right prescription.
Nicotine and Blood Pressure
Nicotine temporarily increases your adrenaline and heart rate. However, this usually only occurs if you’ve consumed high levels of nicotine within a short period of time.
Furthermore, the chemicals in cigarette smoke, not nicotine, will swell and narrow your blood vessels, which can lead to dangerous heart and blood conditions.
Experts suggest that low nicotine consumption will not induce higher heart rates and adrenaline rushes, minimising the negative correlation between nicotine and blood pressure medications.
This means that going through NRT and using a nicotine patch while taking blood pressure medication is relatively safe if you’re on a smoking cessation journey. But again, we encourage you to see a GP.
The Effects of Vaping on Medication
Nicotine vaping products (NVPs) have exploded in popularity over the last few years. The latest Cochrane Review found high certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective than traditional nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) in helping people quit smoking.
However, they might not be the best option for motivated smokers taking any form of medication.
Pharmacy-available NVPs contain enough nicotine to handle your withdrawals and cravings while quitting smoking (minus the dangers of cigarette smoke), which can increase your heart rate, cause nausea, and also affect your current medication.
Using any NVP (whether you’re taking medication or not) must be via a GP under a smoking cessation programme.
The Best Solution: Stop Using Nicotine on Medication
The best option to ensure the efficacy of your medication is always a preventative one. Stopping nicotine use while on medication will give you the best chance of recovery.
We completely understand that quitting smoking is a steep mountain to climb. That’s why we’re always here to help.
Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around!
If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.
Link Reference:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4312848/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5117481/
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/smoking-and-mental-health
- https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pages/site-page-not-found.aspx?requestUrl=https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Publications/tool-14-medication-intera.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/50th-anniversary/pdfs/fs_smoking_cvd_508.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8099302/
- https://www.cochrane.org/news/latest-cochrane-review-finds-high-certainty-evidence-nicotine-e-cigarettes-are-more-effective