Nicotine and your body: what you need to know

Let’s explore nicotine’s effect on your body

Have you ever wondered what happens to nicotine after you smoke, vape or use a nicotine pouch? Join us as we explore how your body absorbs and breaks down nicotine.

It is important to remember that nicotine is addictive and not risk-free.

What happens when nicotine enters the body?

When you consume nicotine – whether by smoking, vaping or using pouches – it enters your bloodstream and is quickly transported to your brain. There, it triggers the release of several neurotransmitters (such as dopamine, endorphins and adrenaline) . The half-life of nicotine is around two hours. This means that over this period, your body breaks down half of the nicotine present. However, nicotine metabolites remain in the body for longer. If you use nicotine regularly, the nicotine levels in your body can remain elevated between product use sessions . The half-life and rate of elimination of nicotine can also be significantly influenced by many factors, such as body weight, age and state of health. 

Comparing smoking, vaping and nicotine pouches

• Smoking: nicotine enters the lungs and passes quickly into the bloodstream (2). You are likely to feel the effects in seconds.
• Vaping: as an inhalation product, nicotine is absorbed through the lungs and quickly enters the bloodstream; however, absorption varies by device and liquid strength.
• Nicotine pouches: the amount of nicotine absorbed depends on various factors, including the pouch’s nicotine strength and how long the pouch remains in the mouth. Generally, nicotine is absorbed more slowly through the oral mucosa from pouches than from cigarettes and vaping products, which leads to a slower experience of nicotine effects in the first few minutes.

Click here to learn about how VELO nicotine pouches differ from smoking cigarettes as a smoke-free alternative.

VELO nicotine pouches are not risk-free and are addictive. They are not marketed or licensed as smoking cessation aids or devices.

References:

1. Benowitz, N.L. (2009) Pharmacology of nicotine: addiction, smoking-induced disease, and therapeutics (Pharmakologie von Nikotin: Sucht, durch Rauchen verursachte Erkrankungen und Therapeutika). Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 49, S. 57–71.
2. Ebajemito, J.K., McEwan, M., Gale, N., et al. (2020) A randomised controlled single-centre open-label pharmacokinetic study to examine various approaches of nicotine delivery using electronic cigarettes (Eine randomisierte, kontrollierte, einzentrige, offene pharmakokinetische Studie zur Untersuchung verschiedener Ansätze der Nikotinabgabe mittels elektronischer Zigaretten). Scientific Reports, 10(1), Artikelnummer: 19980.
3. Kanobe, M.N., Powell, C.Y., Patrudu, M., et al. (2025) Randomized crossover clinical studies to assess abuse liability and nicotine pharmacokinetics of Velo Oral Nicotine pouches (Randomisierte klinische Crossover-Studien zur Bewertung des Missbrauchspotenzials und der Nikotinpharmakokinetik von Velo Oral Nicotine Pouches). Frontiers in Pharmacology, 16, Artikelnummer: 1547073.

*VELO nicotine pouches contain no tobacco and do not produce smoke or vapour when used. They generate less odour, no smoke and no ash. This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance.

**Except in Japan where VELO pouches may contain tobacco.

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