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Extending Nicotine Patch Treatment Temporarily Increases Likelihood of Smoking Abstinence
Using transdermal nicotine patches for 24 weeks rather than the standard 8 weeks increases smoking abstinence, but the effect lasts only as long as treatment continues, according to an Annals of Internal Medicine study.
Almost 600 otherwise healthy smokers wanting to quit were randomized either to the standard 8-week, 21-mg patch treatment (plus 16 weeks on placebo patch) or to 24 weeks on the patch.
Those on extended treatment stood a greater chance of achieving biochemically confirmed point-prevalence abstinence at 24 weeks than those on standard treatment (32% vs. 20%). However, by week 52, the abstinence rates did not differ significantly (15% vs. 14%).
The authors conclude that the benefits of extended treatment "were evident only while treatment was maintained."
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Annals of Internal Medicine article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
Published in Physician's First Watch February 2, 2010
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