Smokers May Fare Better Using Nicotine Patch Long-Term
(Chicago, IL) -- Nicotine patches may work better the longer a smoker uses them. That's according to a new study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine." Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine tested the effectiveness of the patch by conducting a blind study involving 568 smokers. About half were given GlaxoSmithKline's Nicoderm CQ patch for the recommended eight weeks followed by a placebo for another four months. The rest got the real patch for the full six months. At the end of the test, the researchers found that the smokers who were on the nicotine patch the whole time were twice as likely to kick the habit and had an easier time getting back on track after a relapse. However, the number who were still smoke-free after a year was virtually the same for both groups. The researchers say their study suggests long-term treatment for nicotine addiction may be the only way to keep many smokers from falling off the wagon. Currently, less than nine percent of health insurance companies cover the full cost of nicotine patches and only 33 states pay for the patch under Medicaid. |