Nicotine patches are a common tool people use to quit smoking, but there are some important things to know about nicotine and MS specifically.
Nicotine has been shown to compromise the blood-brain barrier, which is already a concern in MS. This means nicotine — even outside of cigarettes — may not be entirely risk-free for Show Full Answer
Nicotine patches are a common tool people use to quit smoking, but there are some important things to know about nicotine and MS specifically.
Nicotine has been shown to compromise the blood-brain barrier, which is already a concern in MS. This means nicotine — even outside of cigarettes — may not be entirely risk-free for people with MS. That said, quitting smoking is strongly encouraged for people with MS. Smoking can:
- Speed up disease progression
- Increase the number of brain lesions
- Worsen MS symptoms
- Reduce the effectiveness of some MS medications like Avonex, Rebif, Plegridy, and Tysabri
If nicotine patches help someone quit smoking, the overall benefit of quitting may outweigh the risks of short-term nicotine use. However, it's really worth having a conversation with a healthcare provider to weigh the options and find the best quitting strategy for your specific situation.
June 3
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