February 14, 2006 – Starting to wear nicotine patches two weeks before quitting smoking could improve one’s chances of becoming a non-smoker, according to a study led by an American researcher who invented several types of patches1.
As the study was only conducted with 96 heavy smokers who burn 20 or more cigarettes per day, it is still too early to recommend the use of the nicotine patch before quitting.
Still, the experiment gave interesting results: half of smokers who wore a nicotine patch before quitting were still holding on, four weeks after having quit. Among those who had worn a placebo patch during the same period, this rate was 23%. Six months later, this trend was similar.
Unexpectedly, in smokers of low-tar cigarettes, wearing the nicotine patch coincides with a reduction in tobacco use in the period leading up to the date of quitting. However, this has not been observed in regular cigarette smokers.
Likewise, it was noted that those who used nicotine patches before quitting smoking experienced fewer symptoms related to smoking cessation. Among other things, they felt less urge to smoke and slept better than the other subjects.
Wearing nicotine patches while smoking would not have caused any particular side effects, according to the study author. Note that the manufacturers of nicotine patches advise consumers not to use their products while continuing to smoke.
The principal investigator could benefit financially from the results of this research, which received a grant from a public body, the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A patent holder, he indeed receives royalties from the sale of the stamps he invented. As for its research center, it is funded by Philip Morris, a multinational tobacco company.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Rose JE, Behm FM, Westman EC, Kukovich P. Precessation treatment with nicotine skin patch facilitates smoking cessation, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, February 2006, Vol. 8, No. 1, 89-101. The journal’s website is www.ntrjournal.org [consulté le 13 février 2006].