The effect of different dosages of a transdermal nicotine substitution system on the success rate of smoking cessation therapy

Abstract

The effectiveness of different nicotine dosages on abstinence rates was investigated in a smoking cessation study. One hundred smokers underwent nine weeks of self-controlled treatment based on behavioral principles. The overall group was divided into two subgroups randomized according to sex, cigarette consumption and age. The first group (n = 51) was given a nicotine dose adapted to daily cigarette consumption. The second group (n = 49) was given a standardized dose. There was, unexpectedly, no difference between the two groups in respect to short-term abstinence rates. These results suggest that standardized dosage is preferred to individually adapted dosage.