Combining the nicotine patch with a self-administered form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), utilizing the gum, the inhaler, or the nasal spray, is more efficacious than a single form of nicotine replacement. Patients should be encouraged to use such combined treatments if they are unable to quit using a single type of first-line pharmacotherapy.Technorati Tags: Tobacco, Smoking, Quitting Smoking, Nicotine Patch, Nicotrol Inhaler
I'm Dr. Joshua Schwimmer, a nephrologist and internal medicine physician in New York City. • Kidney Notes was the first active nephrology blog. (Trivia: Kidney Notes is so old that the National Library of Medicine still uses it as an example of how to formally cite blogs.) • Professionally, you can find me at Kidney.nyc. • Kidney Notes is for educational purposes only, not medical advice. Consult qualified health care professionals. See disclaimer.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Smoking Cessation: Combining the Nicotrol Inhaler and Nicotine Patch
I've recently successfully helped patients quit smoking by using a combination of the nicotine patch and the Nicotrol inhaler. A Google Scholar search is here. A very readable paper on treating tobacco use and dependence in the journal Chest is here.