Effect of nicotine chewing gum in smoking cessation. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study
A. I. Hjalmarson
The effect of 2-mg nicotine chewing gum as an adjunct to group therapy for
smoking cessation was studied in a placebo-controlled, double-blind,
randomized trial. After one year, 29% of the 106 subjects treated with
nicotine chewing gum had remained abstinent throughout the year compared
with 16% of the 99 subjects treated with placebo. The results were
confirmed by measurement of levels of expired CO. More subjects in the
nicotine group (70/94 v 45/93) reported that the gum reduced the craving
for smoking. The adverse effects were few and not serious. In the nicotine
group, 3% were still using the nicotine gum after two years. No subjects in
the placebo group used the chewing gum beyond six months. Nicotine chewing
gum is effective in improving the success rates in smoking cessation based
on group therapy.
