Rob Hicks, general practitioner, replies: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is designed to release a fixed amount of nicotine into the body without the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco. NRT can help reduce cravings and is less harmful than smoking. It can cause side-effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure and an upset stomach and it is possible to become addicted to NRT. For this reason it's recommended to reduce the dose of NRT over a specified number of months and to not take it for longer than this - for lozenges this is six months. If you're finding it hard to be without the lozenges ask your GP about being referred to a smoking cessation clinic or contact Quit for advice on 0800 002200.