Nicotine replacement therapy … - Carlos A ... - Entretiens du Carla

Figure 3 - Point prevalence abstinence at longest follow-up In : Silagy C, Lancaster T, Stead L, Mant D,
Fowler G. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane
Library, Issue 3, 2004. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
• A group of 923 subjects smoking at
least 20 cigarettes per day and with no
intention of quitting were classified into 3
groups: NRT (inhaler or 4 mg gum, 15 mg
patch, combination of both), placebo, no
intervention, and received follow-up for 6
months (17). At the end of the study,
smoking reduction and the number of
quit attempts was higher in the group
who had used NRT as an aid than in the
other groups.
• A group of 411 smokers who were
motivated to reduce their consumption
received follow-up for 24 months. They
used 2-mg strength (FTND ≤ 5) or 4-mg
strength (FTND ≥ 6) nicotine gum as
required as an aid, or placebo. Follow-up
involved nine 30-minute visits [18]. After
24 months, 6.3% of the smokers using NRT
had reduced their cigarette consumption
vs. 0.5% in the placebo group, and the 12month
and 24-month cessation rates were
respectively 11.2% and 9.3% in smokers
using NRT vs. 3.9% and 3.4% for those
using placebo.
NRT treatment was perfectly well
tolerated and the reduction in cigarette
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consumption correlated with that of the
markers of consumption (CO, cotinine).
Finally motivation to quit was increased
among the reducers.
• A cohort of 143 male and female
smokers with a mean FTND of 7, a mean
daily cigarette consumption of 22.6 and
who were ready to reduce their
consumption were assigned, after
education in the use of the various forms
of NRT (gum, patches, tablets, spray,
inhalers) for one week to a type of NRT or
can choose their NRT for the next two
weeks; in the last 2 weeks of the study
there was "cross-over" between the 2
groups of NRT methods (14). At the end of
the study, greater effective reduction in
mean consumption (- 54%) was observed
when the smoker could choose the type of
NRT, withdrawal symptoms and cravings
were well controlled, CO readings were
reduced by 35%, and smoking reduction
was perfectly well tolerated. Finally, 93%
of smokers wanted to quit smoking, and
33% of them wanted to do so in the
following months; the rate of abstinence
induced during the trial was 5%.
Reducing cigarettes consumption - Jean Perriot