Vaping

Can nicotine replacement therapy help you quit vaping?

Reviewed September 13, 2026 · 9 sources · Jump to sources

Short answer

Possibly, but the evidence is thin. In the U.S., the FDA has not approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for quitting vaping, and a 2025 Cochrane review found no clear evidence that combination NRT helps people quit vaping at six months or longer. In the UK, the NHS says Nicorette QuickMist is approved for quitting vaping. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you are under 18.

Key takeaways

The FDA has not approved NRT, varenicline or bupropion to help people quit vaping, according to Smokefree.gov.
A 2025 Cochrane review found no clear evidence that combination NRT improves vaping quit rates at six months or longer, and called the data inconclusive.
In the UK, the NHS says Nicorette QuickMist is the only approved NRT for quitting vaping and suggests combining it with a nicotine patch.
Over-the-counter NRT is approved for people 18 and older; the FDA says anyone younger should speak to a doctor first.
Evidence for NRT in teens is limited; talk to a doctor, pharmacist or quit coach before starting any quit medicine.

Is nicotine replacement therapy approved for quitting vaping?

Not in the U.S. The nicotine patch, lozenge, gum, oral inhaler and nasal spray are FDA-approved to help adults quit smoking cigarettes. Smokefree.gov says the FDA has not approved NRT, varenicline or bupropion to help people quit vaping, but that if you are struggling, you should talk with a doctor or other health care professional about whether medication might be right for you. CDC's quit-medicine guidance similarly tells people who use e-cigarettes to talk to a doctor or other health care provider, or call the quitline.

The UK is different. The NHS says Nicorette QuickMist is currently the only approved NRT for quitting vaping, that it gives quick relief when a craving hits, and that it can be combined with a nicotine patch for steady, long-lasting coverage.

What does the research say about NRT for quitting vaping?

A 2025 update of the Cochrane review Interventions for quitting vaping included 15 studies with 5,800 participants. For combination NRT compared with no or minimal support, it found no clear evidence of benefit for quitting vaping at six months or longer, and described the data as inconclusive because of risk of bias and imprecision.

Inconclusive is not the same as shown not to work: the trials so far are too few and too imprecise to say. The same review found low-certainty evidence that varenicline, a quit-smoking pill, may help people quit vaping, and that text-message support may help people aged 13 to 24.

How could NRT fit into a plan to quit vaping?

If you want to try it, involve a professional. CDC says a health care provider may suggest medicines to help manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and Health Canada advises asking your provider about choosing a quit aid that is right for you. Its list of quit aids includes NRT, prescription medications and cytisine.

Sources also stress pairing medicine with other support. For adults who smoke, CDC says the best chance of quitting for good comes from using medication and counseling together, and Health Canada says combining different types of support gives you the best chance of success. In the U.S., trained quit coaches at 1-800-QUIT-NOW help at no cost.

Can teens use nicotine replacement therapy to quit vaping?

Over-the-counter NRT is approved for sale to people 18 and older. The FDA says anyone under 18 considering a quit product should speak to a doctor first, and CDC says people younger than 18 should not use quit-smoking medicines without talking to their doctor.

Evidence in young people is limited. A 2025 review in Frontiers in Psychiatry found NRT had limited long-term success for adolescents trying to quit smoking, and said there is currently limited evidence that it helps adolescents stop newer nicotine products. Smokefree Teen recommends talking to a doctor or another health care professional about how to quit vaping, and points to SmokefreeTXT, which you can join by texting QUIT to 47848.

How Vow can help

Vow is not a medical service and doesn't replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist about NRT. Its personalized quit plan is built from your triggers and toughest times, and Craving Shield (Premium) guides you through an urge-surfing timer of about 3 minutes when a craving hits.

Quit vaping with Vow

Sources

Each source below was read when this answer was reviewed. Open a source to see the passages the answer relies on.

CDC Tips From Former Smokers — Quit Smoking Medicinescdc.gov
These quit-smoking medicines include nicotine replacement medicines (the nicotine patch, lozenge, gum, oral inhaler, and nasal spray) and pill medicines (varenicline and bupropion SR).
The quit-smoking medicines talked about on this website are approved by the FDA for adults to use to quit cigarettes.
If you use tobacco products other than cigarettes (like cigars, chew, snuff, hookah, or e-cigarettes), talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider or call the quitline.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or younger than 18, you should not use these medicines without talking to your doctor.
Open the source
Smokefree.gov — Nicotine Withdrawal and Vapingsmokefree.gov
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved these medications to help people quit vaping, but if you are struggling with quitting, talk with your doctor or another health care professional
Medications like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, and bupropion are used to help people quit smoking cigarettes.
talk with your doctor or another health care professional about your challenges and whether medication might be right for you
Open the source
NHS Better Health — How to quit vapingnhs.uk
Right now, Nicorette® QuickMist is the only approved NRT for quitting vaping. It provides quick relief when you have a craving.
Combine it with a nicotine patch for steady, long-lasting coverage.
pharmacist or stop smoking adviser
You should only quit vaping if you are confident you can do it without smoking cigarettes.
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Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (via PMC) — Interventions for quitting vaping (2025 update)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Fifteen studies (six new to this updated version) involving 5800 participants are included.
For combination NRT versus no/minimal support, there was no clear evidence of benefit for vaping cessation rates at six months or longer
Data exploring the effectiveness of combination NRT, cytisine, and nicotine/vaping behaviour reduction are inconclusive due to risk of bias and imprecision.
Low‐certainty evidence suggests that varenicline may help people quit vaping.
Low‐certainty evidence (due to indirectness) that text message‐based interventions may increase vaping cessation rates compared to no/minimal support in 13‐ to 24‐year‐olds specifically
Open the source
CDC — Vaping and Quittingcdc.gov
Talk to your health care provider about tools and resources you can use to help you quit. They may suggest medications to help you manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Consider using counseling and medication together. Adults who smoke have the best chance of quitting for good when they use medication and counseling together.
Trained quit coaches are available via 1-800-QUIT-NOW to provide confidential help at no cost to callers.
Open the source
Health Canada (Canada.ca) — Quitting vapingcanada.ca
Ask your healthcare provider about choosing a quit aid that is right for you to increase your chances of quitting successfully.
Visit Quit with Confidence: How to quit to learn more about these quit aids: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), Prescription medications, Cytisine
Combining different types of support will give you the best chance of success.
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U.S. FDA — Want to Quit Smoking? FDA-Approved and FDA-Cleared Cessation Products Can Helpfda.gov
Over-the-counter NRTs are approved for sale to people age 18 and older.
If you're considering using a smoking cessation product and are under age 18, speak to a doctor before using these products.
Talk to your health care provider to determine the best course of treatment and which smoking cessation products might work best for you.
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Frontiers in Psychiatry (via PMC) — Beis I et al., Nicotine replacement therapy as a smoking cessation tool for adolescents: an update (2025)pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
NRT demonstrated limited success in long-term smoking cessation among adolescents, with low cessation rates that often declined post-treatment.
While NRT could be a potential method for helping adolescents cease novel nicotine product use, there is currently limited evidence to support its effectiveness.
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Smokefree Teen — How to Quit Vapingteen.smokefree.gov
Talk to your doctor or another health care professional about how to quit vaping.
Try SmokefreeTXT by signing up online or texting QUIT to 47848.
Open the source

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace care from a qualified professional. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. Vow is not a medical service.