In addition, experts found that using nicotine patches over a longer period not only reduced the risk for relapse, but also increased the chances of recovery after slipping.
Study author Robert Schnoll, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine stated, “Our data suggest that the many smokers who relapse while trying to quit will be especially helped by extended treatment, which appears to make it easier for smokers to 'get back on the wagon' after a small smoking slip, instead of having it turn into a full-blown relapse.
“We know that tobacco dependence is a chronic, relapsing condition that may require extended treatment, and we hope our research efforts will encourage physicians to recommend to their patients that they use nicotine patches for a longer duration.”
Comparisons drawn between extended and standard therapy
In an effort to compare the effects of standard nicotine patch with extended therapy, the researchers focused on 568 adult smokers, who lit at least ten cigarettes daily for the last 12 months and were interested in kicking the habit.
Participants were randomly assigned to use 21-milligram nicotine patches for either the standard eight weeks or 24 weeks. Those on the standard therapy were given placebo patches for the remaining 16 weeks of the treatment.
Additionally, all the patients were offered counseling.
Observations by researchers
The researchers noted that the chances of those on extended therapy to resist the temptation of lighting up was twice compared to those in the placebo group.
However, there was no variation in the side effects such as headache, skin irritation and sleep deprivation exhibited by the patients in both the groups.
The study's senior author, Caryn Lerman stated, "We found that extending the duration of therapy to 24 weeks was significantly more effective in helping smokers quit compared to the standard duration of eight weeks.
However, the advantages of extended therapy disappeared once the patches were discarded. After one year no significant difference was in noted in both the groups.
Those who had the extended treatment showed a 14.5 percent non-smoking rate while the ones on standard therapy exhibited a 14.3 percent rate.
Need for further research
The researchers feel there is a need for further study to look into corrective strategies like counseling, additional therapies, and medicines to enhance the efficiency of extended patch use.
“While we have documented that extended therapy is more efficacious overall than standard therapy, not everyone benefits equally. Therefore, our team is using genetic approaches to identify smokers who will achieve the greatest benefit from an extended or maintenance therapy approach,” declared Lerman.
Details of the new research appear in the Feb. 2 issue of the scientific journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
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