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Continuing to wear nicotine patches after smoking lapses promotes recovery of abstinence
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 09:50 authored by Stuart FergusonStuart Ferguson, Gitchell, JG, Shiffman, SAims: Smokers who lapse during a cessation attempt are at particularly high risk of relapse, so interventions to help smokers recover from lapses are urgently needed. Two recent studies have suggested continuing to use nicotine patches following a lapse may be a beneficial relapse prevention strategy. However, to date no study that uses approved doses of nicotine patches under real-world conditions has tested this hypothesis. Design & Setting: Clinical trial conducted across eight US study sites. Participants & Measurements: Using data from 509 subjects (240 active; 269 placebo) who lapsed during weeks 3-5 of treatment in a randomized, double blind placebo controlled trial of 21-mg nicotine patches, we examined whether active nicotine patch use improved the chances of recovering abstinence (7-day point-prevalence) at weeks 6 and 10. Findings: Active patch use (versus placebo) increased the likelihood of recovery from a lapse both at 6 weeks (8.3% vs 0.8%; Relative Risk [RR]=11.0, p<.001) and at 10 weeks (9.6% vs 2.6%; RR=3.7, p<.001). Conclusions: Continuing treatment to aid smoking cessation with active patches promotes recovery from lapses. Smokers should be encouraged to persist with patch treatment if they lapse to smoking.
Funding
Cancer Council of Tasmania
History
Publication title
AddictionVolume
107Issue
7Pagination
1349-1353ISSN
1360-0443Department/School
School of Pharmacy and PharmacologyPublisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Place of publication
The Atrium, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8SQ, UKRights statement
Copyright 2012 Society for the Study of AddictionRepository Status
- Restricted