The combination of nicotine gum plus nicotine patch has been shown to be more effective in achieving a 6-month abstinence rate of 27.5% and a 12-month abstinence rate of 18.1% compared with either method alone.1
The combination of nicotine nasal spray and nicotine patch has been shown to produce an abstinence rate of 27% at 12 months compared with the patch alone. At 6 years out, 16% of the combination participants were abstinent, while 9% of the patch-only group were abstinent.2
According to the AHCPR panel, interventions such as counseling sessions combined with nicotine replacement therapy increases the chances of success for smoking cessation, with the greatest results arising from intensive psychosocial therapy as opposed to brief interventions.3
1 Kornitzer M, Boutsen M, Dramaix M, et al. Combined use of nicotine patch and gum in smoking cessation: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Prev Med. 1995;24:41-47.
2 Blondal T, Gudmundsson LJ, Olafsdottir I, et al. Nicotine nasal l spray with nicotine patch for smoking cessation: randomised trial with six year follow up. Br Med J. 1999;318:285-289.
3 Smoking Cessation, Clinical Practice Guidelines, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Number 18 |
