Combination nicotine replacement therapy

What is combination NRT?

Combination NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) is the use of NicoDerm® patch plus an additional form of short-acting Nicorette® oral NRT (gum, lozenge, inhaler, QUICKMIST®) on an as-needed basis.

Who is a good candidate for combination NRT?

• Patients who have used NRT in a previous quit attempt but relapsed

• Patients who have had multiple failed quit attempts

• Patients who feel they need something more than a patch or single NRT format

• Patients who are experiencing breakthrough cravings or who have a high level of dependence

REDUCE TO QUIT® using combination therapy

How effective is combination therapy?

Why do some patients need combination NRT?

Smokers’ nicotine levels vary throughout the day, resulting in a gradual build-up of trough nicotine levels and regular nicotine peaks each time they smoke.³

Monotherapy may not be able to provide both high daily baseline nicotine levels as well as the nicotine levels needed during the craving phase.³

Combination therapy was 30% more effective at 12 months than monotherapy alone¹

In a meta-analysis of first-line smoking cessation pharmacotherapies 6 months after quitting⁴:

• Combination therapy was similarly effective to varenicline

  • Patch (>14 weeks) plus ad lib NRT (gum or spray): OR 3.6 (2.6, 5.2 - 95% CI)

  • Varenicline: OR 3.1 (2.5, 3.8 - 95% CI)

Combination NRT using patch + an oral form of NRT enables coverage of both peak and trough levels of nicotine.