A review published in 2007 by the Cochrane Collaboration, which has produced many reviews in this field, examined 123 different clinical trials featuring thousands of individuals. It concluded that all forms of NRT can help smokers to quit and doubles the number who stay off cigarettes long-term.2 The efficacy of NRT is well documented.
In more than 100 clinical trials, smokers who used NRT were significantly more likely to stop smoking compared with participants who used willpower alone.2 Furthermore, data confirms that 45 per cent of smokers who used nicorette Patch are smoke free at 12 weeks.3 Nicorette’s expertise over many years has concluded that individuals require different solutions to help them stop smoking.
Nicorette therefore has the widest range of clinically proven formats each with its own profile and benefits to suit the needs and lifestyles of individual smokers. The range encompasses gum, patch (for 16-hour use), inhalator, microtab and nasal spray.
Nicorette is therefore able to offer individuals a highly personalised quitting approach – for example the inhalator may be more suitable for a smoker who misses the hand-to-mouth action of smoking, while microtab might be favoured by smokers who want a more discreet support, and patches might suit smokers who want one daily treatment.
In addition, the following key factors have significantly improved NRT accessibility and appeal to a wide range of smokers:
- Structured behavioural support programmes: Nicorette provides individualised support through the ‘ActiveStop’ programme. Studies suggest that use of NRT and intensive behavioural support can increase smoking cessation rates compared to willpower alone. 4 5 6
- Cut Down with nicorette Then Stop: Until recently, the large group of smokers who could not stop abruptly did not have any treatment options. Nicorette pioneered the development of and is now licensed for ‘Cut Down Then Stop’, enabling one in three smokers to stop smoking once they have reduced their daily cigarette intake by 50 per cent.7
- Extended licence: The nicorette licence has recently been extended to include teenagers (12 years upwards), those with high cardiovascular risk and pregnant women, further underlining its support of its value to public health, and its suitability to a wide range of patient groups.
- Availability: Nicorette is widely available in flexible formats over the counter to help smokers whenever or wherever they have cravings. This accessibility is of particular value to many smokers who do not consider smoking to be a medical condition and therefore do not visit their doctor for advice or treatment.
- Tolerability: Nicorette has a good side effect profile and also does not affect an individual’s ability to drive.
- Weight control: Studies have shown that as well as helping people stop smoking nicorette Gum can also help reduce smoking-cessation weight gain in women.8 The entire range of nicorette products is available on prescription and over the counter via pharmacies and GSL for some formats.
The nicorette range includes nicorette Gum, nicorette Patches, nicorette Inhalator, nicorette Microtab and nicorette Nasal Spray. Nicorette is a stop-smoking aid. Contains nicotine. Always read the label. Requires willpower.
References: (1) Treat Tobacco. www.treatobacco.net/safety/showReference.cfm?kid=1&sid=3 Last accessed 28.11.06 (2) Silagy C, Lancaster T, Stead L et al. The Cochrane Collaboration. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. ISSN 1464-780X (3) Sachs D PL. et al. Effectiveness of a 16-Hour Transdermal Nicotine Patch in a Medical Practice Setting, Without Intensive Group Counselling. Arch Intern Med, 1993; 153: 1881-1890 (4) West R, McNeill A, Raw M. Smoking cessation guidelines for health professionals: an update.Thorax; 2000; 55:987-99.(5) Hilton A. Prescriber 5 February 2003:14-20 (6) Fowler G.2000. Smoking: Time to confront a major health issue. Update. May supplemental; 3-7. (7) Data on File Pfizer – CDTS 001 (8) Leischow SJ. et al. “Effects of Differing Nicotine-Replacement Doses on Weight Gain After Smoking Cessation”. Arch. Fam. Med. 1992; 1(2) 233-7.
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