Table 1. FDA-Approved Smoking Cessation Medications
Name
|
Forms
|
Dosage
|
Length of Use
|
Precautions/ Contraindications
|
Side Effects
|
| Bupropion, sustained-release |
Zyban (prescription only) |
150 mg in morning for 3 days, then 150 mg twice a day |
Begin 1–2 wks before quit date, then 7–12 wks |
Seizure, eating disorder |
Insomnia, dry mouth |
| Nicotine gum |
Nicorette, Nicorette DS, Nicorette Mint, Nicorette Orange (OTC only) |
Up to 24 pieces/day; <25 cigs/day  2 mg;  25 cigs/day 4 mg |
Up to 12 wks |
|
Sore mouth, dyspepsia |
| Nicotine inhaler |
Nicotrol Inhaler (prescription only) |
6–16 cartridges/day |
Up to 6 mo |
|
Mouth/throat irritation |
| Nicotine nasal spray |
Nicotrol NS (prescription only) |
8–40 doses/day |
3–6 mo |
Dependency |
Nasal irritation |
Nicotine patch
|
Nicoderm CQ (OTC only), generic/house brand patches (OTC and prescription)Nicotrol (OTC only)
|
21 mg/24 h; 14 mg/24 h; 7 mg/24 h; 15 mg/16 h
|
4 wks; then 2 wks; then 2 wks 8 wks
|
|
Local skin reaction
|
| OTC indicates over the counter. Zyban, Nicorette, and Nicoderm are products of Glaxo SmithKline; Nicotrol is a product of Pharmacia, Inc. |
|
