Provides smokers with a lower and relatively safer dose of nicotine to attenuate smoking withdrawal symptoms.
Allows a smoker to develop behavioral coping strategies while the physiologic addiction is being treated.
Includes nicotine gum, patches, sprays, inhalers and lozenges.
All forms of NRT are comparable in effectiveness in increasing quit rates than placebo or no support (17% versus 10%).
No evidence exists that nicotine replacement therapy increases the risk of healing or cardiovascular complications.
Currently available in five delivery methods: gum, lozenges, nasal spray, patches and inhalers.
NRT in any form added to any other tobacco use intervention increasse abstinence rates by approximately 60%.
NRT delivered nicotine to nicotinic receptors in the CNS in a lower dose and add a substantially slower rate than tobacco cigarettes.
It may decrease weight gain associated with smoking cessation.
Nicotine undergoes first pass metabolism that limits its effectiveness in pill formations.
Nicotine gum, lozenges and patches are available and are as effective as prescription nicotine or oral inhaler and nasal spray.
Used as a monotherapy rapid onset nicotine replacement therapy such as gum, lozenge, nasal spray or oral inhaler should be taken on a regular schedule to prevent nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
The combining of a nicotine patch with the rapid onset formulation is more effective than monotherapy.
Nicotine patches require 6-8 hours to achieve peak serum levels.
Nicotine patches deliver nicotine to the CNS more slowly than the other nicotine replacement therapies.
Gum, lozengess, or oral inhaler are absorbed via the buccal mucosa, and serum nicotine concentrations peak 20-60 minutes.
Nicotine from nasal spray is the fastest acting of nicotine replacement therapies, Achieving a peek CNS concentration in 5-20 minutes.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms are relieved faster with nasal spray then with other nicotine replacement therapies.
Nicotine spray can irritate throat and nasal mucosa and should not be utilized for more than three months.