Extended Nicotine Patch Therapy Helps Stop Smoking
According to Penn, the standard time for using a nicotine patch is eight weeks. Researchers found that using the nicotine patch for 24 weeks instead of eight weeks boosts the number of smokers who can maintain their cigarette abstinence and helps them to avoid backsliding
Lead author of the study, Robert Schnoll, Phd, an associate professor of Psychiatry at Penn, stated in a press release, "Our data suggest that the many smokers who relapse while trying to quit will be especially helped by extended treatment, which appears to make it easier for smokers to 'get back on the wagon' after a small smoking slip, instead of having it turn into a full-blown relapse. We know that tobacco dependence is a chronic, relapsing condition that may require extended treatment, and we hope our research efforts will encourage physicians to recommend to their patients that they use nicotine patches for a longer duration."
Penn researchers studied 568 adult smokers who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day for at least a year. At the end of the 24 week study, the smokers who wore the nicotine patch throughout the trial were two times as successful in their attempts to quit smoking than the subjects who wore a placebo patch after the eight week of the trial.
The extended nicotine patch therapy produced similar results to drug therapies, including Zyban and Chantix. Study authors stated that the nicotine patches are available over the counter and are considered safe for people with seizure disorders and mental health problems. The study authors estimated that the cost per quarter would be about $2,482, similar to other drug related cessation aids. The cost of the nicotine patches could be a barrier to using this therapy, as most insurance does not cover the cost of the therapy.
Information in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have questions about a medical condition, please consult a physician.
Resource: EurekAlert!: University of Pensylvania School of Medicine: More smokers kick the habit with extended nicotine patch therapy, Penn research show - 1-Feb-2010
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