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Combinations of Pharmacologic Therapies Found to Be Effective for Smoking Cessation

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Table 2. Combinations of Pharmacologic Therapies Found to Be Effective

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TherapyDosage and DurationComments
Preferred Combinations
Nicotine patch + gum
  • Studies used patch for >14 weeks
  • Use standard dosages and durations of each component drug
  • Patch + gum had 36.5% 6-month abstinence rate in trials vs 23.4% with patch alone (metaanalysis)
  • Patch + bupropion had 28.9%, and lozenge + bupropion had 29.9% 6-month abstinence rates
  • Coadministration with RTV ↑ bupropion levels: use cautiously, especially at high dosages.
Nicotine patch + bupropion SR
Nicotine lozenge + bupropion SR

From Smoking Cessation
Primary Care of Veterans with HIV
Office of Clinical Public Health Programs
Veterans Health Administration, 2009