Nicotine replacement therapy

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Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the use of various forms of nicotine delivery methods intended to replace nicotine obtained from smoking or other tobacco usage. These products are intended for use in smoking cessation efforts to help deal with withdrawal symptoms and cravings or urges. Several forms of NRT have been marketed, including the nicotine patch, inhaler, nasal spray, gum, gel, and lozenge. Supporters of NRT argue that these forms of nicotine are useful and beneficial for tobacco users who want to quit their habit. It is also believed that using these forms of nicotine is significantly less harmful than using cigarettes or snuff. Findings from a recent Cochrane review of controlled trials testing NRT products indicated that smokers using NRT were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to be abstinent from smoking at followup than those in the placebo or control treatment condition. However, some studies show NRT success rates at 6 months to be less than 10 percent, actually lower than the 11 to 12 percent success rate using the "cold turkey" method.

References

• Yahoo! Health Encyclopedia entry entitled "Nicotine replacement therapy for quitting tobacco" link
• Silagy C, Lancaster T, Stead L, Mant D, Fowler G. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD000146.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000146.pub2. abstract|full text
• Real-world efficacy of prescription and over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy, by Shiffman S, et. al., published May 2002 in Addiction, Issue 97(5) at Pages 505-516 Entrez PubMed

Caveat

This entry is intended for informational purposes but is not intended to replace a medical doctor's advice regarding treatment. Always seek the advice of a health care professional before starting a new treatment or before changing current treatment.