nicotine

Nicotine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in tobacco and other plants of the nightshade family. It is a highly addictive stimulant and the primary psychoactive component responsible for tobacco dependence. Medically, nicotine is used as an aid to smoking cessation and for relief of withdrawal symptoms through various forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays[1][4]. Mechanistically, nicotine acts primarily as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Activation of these ionotropic receptors leads to neuronal depolarization and increased release of neurotransmitters—most notably dopamine in reward pathways—which underlies its reinforcing effects[1][5][6]. At higher doses or with chronic use it can also have sedative properties. The addictive potential of nicotine makes it one of the most widely abused substances globally[2][8].

Brand names

HabitrolNicoderm C-QNicoreliefNicoretteNicotrol

Other names

Nicotine hydrogen tartrateNicotine hydrotartrateNicotine tartrateNicotine bitartrate dihydrateNicotine d-bitartrate dihydrateNicotine ditartrate