From the Guidelines
Quitgo is not a recommended or established medication for smoking cessation.
Effective Alternatives
For effective smoking cessation, medications such as varenicline (Chantix) 1mg twice daily, bupropion (Zyban) 150mg twice daily, or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the form of patches, gum, or lozenges are commonly used 1.
Key Considerations
These treatments should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional and as part of a comprehensive quit plan.
- The duration of treatment typically ranges from 7 to 12 weeks, but may vary depending on individual needs and progress.
- Combining behavioral and pharmacotherapy interventions may increase cessation rates compared with usual care or minimal behavioral interventions 1.
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including nicotine transdermal patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers, or nasal spray, is effective in improving smoking abstinence 1.
- Varenicline is more effective than bupropion or NRT in achieving abstinence from cigarette smoking in meta-analyses of randomized trials 1.
Additional Resources
Additional resources for smoking cessation include:
- Telephone-based support, such as the Quitline 1
- Web-based support, such as the American Lung Association Freedom From Smoking program 1
- Mobile phone-based support, such as text messaging programs 1
From the FDA Drug Label
Use reduces withdrawal symptoms, including nicotine craving, associated with quitting smoking.
- Efficacy: The drug label states that nicotine (TD) reduces withdrawal symptoms, including nicotine craving, which is associated with quitting smoking.
- Smoking Cessation: While it reduces withdrawal symptoms, the label does not directly state that Quitgo (nicotine) is effective for smoking cessation.
- Clinical Decision: Based on the available information, it can be inferred that Quitgo (nicotine) may aid in smoking cessation by reducing withdrawal symptoms, but the label does not directly support its effectiveness for smoking cessation 2.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Quitgo (Nicotine) for Smoking Cessation
- The effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation is well-established, with studies showing that combination NRT is more effective than single NRT products 3, 4.
- Nicotine replacement therapy is recommended as a first-line treatment for smoking cessation, along with behavioral counseling and other pharmacotherapies such as varenicline and bupropion 4, 5, 6.
- The use of NRT, including nicotine patches and oral products, has been shown to increase quit rates compared to placebo or brief advice alone 4.
- Combining NRT with other pharmacotherapies, such as varenicline, can also increase quit rates compared to single-product use 4, 7.
Comparison with Other Treatments
- Varenicline has been shown to be the most effective oral drug for smoking cessation, with higher quit rates compared to bupropion and NRT 4.
- Combination NRT and varenicline are preferred initial interventions for smoking cessation, with brief or intensive behavioral support also recommended 4, 6.
- Alternative treatments, such as vaping nicotine, are considered second-line treatments and should not replace or delay the use of known effective therapies 3, 6.
Clinical Recommendations
- Healthcare providers should encourage all patients attempting to quit smoking to use one or more effective pharmacotherapy agents, except in special circumstances or populations with insufficient evidence of effectiveness 5.
- Comprehensive treatment with behavioral interventions and pharmacologic therapy increases success rates of smoking cessation, and clinicians should customize the smoking cessation strategy based on patient preference and comorbidities 6, 7.