Tag: Nicotine receptors

Chronic nicotine exposure does not permanently destroy nicotine receptors, but instead causes their number to increase and become desensitized, which drives dependence. This article clarifies the common misconception behind "what kills nicotine receptors" by explaining how these critical brain structures are affected by long-term smoking and return to normal levels after quitting.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Varenicline, a non-nicotine prescription medication, has become a key pharmacological tool in the fight against tobacco dependence. But **how does varenicline work for quitting smoking** at a chemical level?

Approximately 70-80% of absorbed nicotine is converted to its primary metabolite, cotinine, by the liver before being excreted. While no single substance instantly cancels out nicotine, a combination of pharmaceutical interventions and natural metabolic processes can effectively reduce its effects and speed its removal from the body.