T. Blondal et al., A DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF NICOTINE NASAL SPRAY AS AN AID IN SMOKING CESSATION, The European respiratory journal, 10(7), 1997, pp. 1585-1590
The objective of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of
nicotine nasal solution (NNS) for smoking cessation from the stopping
day up to 3 months. We also followed the participants for 2 yrs after
ceasing smoking to assess what happens after stopping using NNS. In a
placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2 yr prospective study, 157 smokers
were given either NNS, one dose containing 1 mg of nicotine per 100 m
u L (n=79), or placebo (n=78). Treatment was continued for up to 1 yr.
One day after quitting smoking, the average number of daily doses was
11 in the group assigned NNS and 14 in the group assigned the placebo
, and after 6 weeks, 14 and 6 doses, respectively, among abstinent par
ticipants still using spray. After 3 months, 65% of the abstainers in
the nicotine group were still using the NNS, The abstinence rates were
51, 39 and 29% after 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, respectively, as compar
ed to 24, 19 and 18% in the placebo group (p=0,0003; p=0.003; p=0.050)
, The proportion abstinent at the 1 yr (25 vs 17%) and 2 yr follow-ups
(19 vs 14%) was higher among those assigned to the nicotine than to t
he placebo group, but not significantly so for the numbers used in the
study. In conclusion, the use of nicotine nasal spray significantly i
ncreased the abstinence rate during the first 6 months following the q
uitting day.