Pre-cessation NRT

NRTs help support reduce smoking, with the goal of complete cessation¹^,²

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Before

NRT supports smoking reduction

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During

NRT supports complete cessation

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After

NRT helps manage post-cessation cravings

How effective is it to use NRTs before a smoker’s quit date?

In a meta-analysis of four studies^3*:

Pre-cessation patch usage significantly increased the odds of abstinence, both at 6 weeks and 6 months after quit date.

Pre-cessation treatment with nicotine patch was found to double the odds of quitting compared to starting active patch treatment on quit day.

^{*Two studies examined NRT alone, 2 studies examined NRT plus mecamylamine.}

Pre-cessation treatment with nicotine patch significantly increased abstinence rates^4*

Graph of increasing abstinence rates when pre-cessation is used

^{*Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (N=400) that evaluated pre-cessation against conventional treatment. The trial consisted of a 2-week treatment phase where patients were provided a 21 mg nicotine patch (“pre-quit date”) or placebo patch, and a 10-week study phase, where patients received a nicotine patch (21 mg for 6 weeks, 14 mg for 2 weeks and 7 mg for 2 weeks).}

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^References

^{1. Reid R, et al. Managing smoking cessation. CMAJ 2016;188(17-18). DOI:10.1503/cmaj.151510.
2. Richter KP, et al. It’s Time to Change the Default for Tobacco Treatment. Addiction 2014;110:381-386.
3. Shiffman S, Ferguson SG. Nicotine patch therapy prior to quitting smoking: a meta-analysis. Addiction 2008:103(4):557-63.
4. Rose JE, et al. Precessation treatment with nicotine patch significantly increases abstinence rates relative to conventional treatment. Nicotine Tob Res 2009;11(9):1067-75.}