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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 studies3*:

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

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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 rates4*

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.

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