Using a nicotine patch before quitting smoking can double success rates, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers.
The findings suggest that changes should be made to nicotine patch labeling, the researchers said.
"Right now, the nicotine patch is only recommended for use after the quit date," said Jed Rose, director of the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Research and lead author of the paper, published online in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
Labeling used now resulted from concerns that using a patch while smoking could lead to nicotine overdose. However, a literature review found concurrent use of a nicotine patch and cigarette smoking appears to be safe.
"People who use the patch before quitting are likely to spontaneously reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke because the patch satisfies their need for nicotine and makes the act of smoking less enjoyable," he says. It also decreases withdrawal symptoms.
"Yet people are afraid to try a pre-cessation patch because the current labeling recommends users not smoke while on treatment," Rose says. "That's why our study is so important. It reinforces the findings of previous studies, which show the value of pre-cessation patch therapy, and demonstrates that using a pre-cessation nicotine patch can make a significant difference in a person's ability to quit."
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