Nicotrol is the first such drug available. Other patches are expected to be approved by the FDA soon. Studies have shown that nicotine patches can help up to 20 percent of smokers effectively quit smoking. This is comparable to other methods used to stop smoking. However, quitting smoking is most effective when strategies are combined.
Smoking is a habit and nicotine is addictive.
Nicotine gum and patches help counter nicotine addiction, but behavior modification and support groups help deal with the habit. Thus, using them in combination is most effective. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt to quit. The craving to smoke a cigarette often lasts only as long as it would take to smoke a cigarette. This indicates the craving soon will go away.