No one medication is better than another. NWT should be selected based on the patient s nicotine use characteristics and comfort with the medication. Patients should indicate a high degree of motivation prior to a cessation attempt, because no medication will provide this. Although this type of generalization can result in pharmaceutical costs being higher than desired, use of any of these products doubles quit rates compared to placebo. Use of pharmacological therapy should be encouraged if you think it will provide support for the patient s quit attempts.
Clinicians know that some people want to try to quit on their own.
If they are not successful using the Quitline alone, encourage the use of NWT on their next attempt. All NWT must be authorized by the Quitline prior to prescription fill. To reduce cravings, chew nicotine gum on a scheduled as well as an as needed basis using a minimum of one piece every 1-2 hour. Clinicians may need to tailor the dosage for each patient. Nicotine is not well absorbed in an acidic oral environment so, avoid eating or drinking beverages such as coffee, juices, wine, and soft drinks before and during chewing of nicotine gum.