QUESTION:Is nicotine replacement therapy effective in helping people quit tobacco smoking?

3. Is nicotine replacement therapy effective in helping people quit tobacco smoking?

A Controlled Trial of Sustained-Release Bupropion, a Nicotine Patch, or Both for Smoking Cessation.

Jorenby, Douglas E.; Leischow, Scott J.; Nides, Mitchell A.; Rennard, Stephen I.; Johnston, J. Andrew; Hughes, Arlene R.; Smith, Stevens S.; Muramoto, Myra L.; Daughton, David M.; Doan, Kimberli; Fiore, Michael C.; Baker, Timothy B.

Published in, 1999, by the MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY for

The New England Journal of Medicine; Volume 340(9) 4 March 1999 pp 685-691.

Smoking is the silent killer of the 20th century more people died from smoking and smoking related illness in the past hundred years than in all the major wars. The situation used to be one of ignorance people did not realise the ill-effects of their habit on their health and the health of those around them. Today the situation has changed most realise the danger but many are addicted and find it extremely difficult to quit.

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Nicotine is a drug and like most is highly addictive it is a craving for this nicotine which makes it difficult to suddenly stop smoking, hence the introduction of nicotine replacement therapy. The release of nicotine or some similar substance delivers the nicotine to the body without the harmful tar of smoke inhalation hence relieving some of the craving intensity.

Use of such nicotine-replacement therapies is thought to help people quit smoking. The study detailed above was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of such nicotine replacement therapies on smoking subjects, and monitor side effects (if any). The study combines nicotine release patches with an antidepressant bupropion (a combination now used pharmaceutically). Jornby et al.(1) conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of sustained-release bupropion, a nicotine patch, bupropion and a nicotine patch, and placebo for smoking cessation. They excluded smokers with...