Table 2 Drugs used as aids for smoking cessation [50, 52]

Nicotine patch

>10cig/day: 21 mg; <10cig/day: 14 mg

Taper to lower doses

Skin irritation; insomnia

Easy to use; steady nicotine level

Slow release; not to be used during cravings

Nicotine gum

<25cig/d: 2 mg/h; >25cig/d: 4 mg/h

Mouth irritation, heartburn

Cigarette oral substitute;

Dental damage; no food or drink 30 min before use

Nicotine lozenge

1st.cig >30 min after waking: 2 mg/h; 1st.cig <30 min after waking: 4 mg/h;

Hiccups, heartburn

User controls nicotine dose

no food or drink 30 min before use

Nicotine inhaler

Inhale as needed; 6–16 cartridges/day; 10 mg/cartridges

Mouth, throat irritation

User controls nicotine dose; cigarettes oral substitute

Frequent puffing required

Nicotine nasal spray

1–2 h: once/nostril; <40 applications/day

Nasal irritation, cough, sneezing, teary eyes

Most rapid nicotine delivery

Local irritation

Bupropion SR

3 days: 150 mg/day; then 300 mg/day; start 1 wk before quit day

Insomnia; dry mouth

Oral agent; reduce weight gain

Seizures risk; psychiatric effects

Varenicline

3 days:0.5 mg/day; 4 days: 1 mg/day; then 2 mg/day

Nausea, insomnia, abnormal dreams

Dual action: relieves withdrawal and blocks reward from smoking

Psychiatric effects