Nicotine
Nicotine is a highly addictive tobacco alkaloid that acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Acute effects on attention, processing speed and fine motor control have been the subject of research.
- Evidence
- AStrong evidence
- Studied dose
- 1-4mg
- Safety score
- Verified references
- 3 studies
How it is thought to work
Nicotine is an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, particularly the α4β2 and α7 subtypes, and releases dopamine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine. Receptor desensitisation with chronic exposure is thought to underlie dependence.
Where to buy Nicotine
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| Vendor | Product | Size | Price | Per unit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon |  Amazon Basics Coated Nicotine Polacrilex Gum 4 mg, Ice Mint... | - | On Amazon | - | Check price on Amazon Ad |
What the studies found
| Claimed benefit | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Attention and processing speed | A | Heishman 2010 meta-analysis of 41 studies established consistent acute attention improvement.[1] |
| Fine motor control | A | Graded A, but no verified study is cited for this claim yet.Multiple lab studies show improved precision in target-acquisition tasks. |
| Reduced risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's | B | Epidemiological data shows lower disease rates in chronic smokers (the protective effect of nicotine, distinct from tobacco's other harms). |
Each benefit is graded on its own; a substance can have strong evidence for one effect and little for another. What the grades mean.
Dose and timing
Doses used in the research on file, taken as 1-3 doses. Not a recommendation.
Logarithmic time scale. Individual metabolism varies.
Safety and interactions
| Recorded side effect | How often | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Highly addictive | common | severe |
| Cardiovascular stress | common | moderate |
The FDA describes nicotine as a highly addictive chemical compound and states that the serious health effects of tobacco use come mainly from the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke rather than from nicotine itself[3]. The FDA states that nicotine exposure during adolescence can disrupt normal brain development[3].
Side effects in detailRecorded interactionsInteraction checker
History
References
- Meta-analysis of the acute effects of nicotine and smoking on human performance (Heishman). 2010. PubMed 20414766
- Nicotine treatment of mild cognitive impairment: 6-month double-blind pilot trial (Newhouse). 2012. PubMed 22232050
- Nicotine Is Why Tobacco Products Are Addictive (FDA). 2026. Source
Reader reviews
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Sign in to reviewNicotine: quick answers
- How strong is the evidence for Nicotine?
- The overall grade on file is A (strong). 3 claimed benefits are graded separately in the table above. 1 of the benefit grades of A have no verified study cited yet. The entry cites 3 studies.
- What dose of Nicotine has been studied?
- The range on file is 1-4 mg (1-3 doses). It describes doses used in research, not a recommendation.
- How long does Nicotine take to work and how long does it last?
- Listed onset: about 10 minutes. Listed half-life: about 2 hours. Individual metabolism varies.
- What are the side effects of Nicotine?
- Recorded side effects: Highly addictive (common), Cardiovascular stress (common). Safety score 2/5.
Compared with other substances
Show 2Hide
| Comparison | Grade | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine vs Caffeine | A | Stimulant |
| Nicotine vs Modafinil | A | Stimulant |
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