First-line Pharmacotherapies (Approved for use for smoking cessation by the FDA)
Pharmacotherapy: Bupropion SR
Precautions/Contraindications
History of seizure
History of eating
disorder
Side Effects
Insomnia
Dry mouth
Dosage
150 mg every
morning for 3
days, then 150
mg twice daily
(Begin
treatment 1-2
weeks
pre-quit)
Duration
7-12 weeks
maintenance
up to 6
months
Availability
Zyban
(prescription
only)
Cost/dayb
$3.33
Pharmacotherapy: Nicotine Gum
Side Effects
Mouth
soreness
Dyspepsia
Dosage
1-24
cigs/day-2 mg
gum (up to 24
pcs/day)
25+ cigs/day-4
mg gum (up to
24 pcs/day)
Duration
Up to 12
weeks
Availability
Nicorette,
Nicorette
Mint (OTC
only)
Cost/dayb
$6.25 for 10,
2-mg pieces
$6.87 for 10, 4-mg pieces
Pharmacotherapy: Nicotine Inhaler
Side Effects
Local
irritation of
mouth and
throat
Dosage
6-16
cartridges/day
Duration
Up to 6
months
Availability
Nicotrol
Inhaler
(prescription
only)
Cost/dayb
$10.94 for 10
cartridges
Pharmacotherapy: Nicotine Nasal Spray
Side Effects
Nasal
irritation
Dosage
8-40
doses/day
Duration
3-6 months
Availability
Nicotrol NS
(prescription
only)
Cost/dayb
$5.40 for 12
doses
Pharmacotherapy: Nicotine Patch
Side Effects
Local skin
reaction
Insomnia
Dosage: Duration
21 mg/24 hours: 4 weeks
14 mg/24 hours: then 2 weeks
7 mg/24 hours: then 2 weeks
Dosage: Duration
15 mg/16 hours: 8 weeks
Availability
Nicoderm CQ
(Over the Counter [OTC] only),
Generic
patches
(prescription
and OTC),
Nicotrol
(OTC only)
Cost/dayb
Brand name
patches
$4.00-$4.50c
Second-line Pharmacotherapies (Not approved for use for smoking cessation by the FDA)
Pharmacotherapy: Clonidine
Precautions/Contraindications
Rebound
hypertension
Side Effects
Dry mouth
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Sedation
Dosage
0.15-0.75
mg/day
Duration
3-10 weeks
Availability
Oral
Clonidine-generic,
Catapres
(prescription
only)
Transdermal Catapres
(prescription
only)
Cost/dayb
Clonidine:
$0.24 for 0.2
mg
Catapres (transdermal): $3.50
Pharmacotherapy: Nortriptyline
Precautions/Contraindications
Risk of arrythmias
Side Effects
Sedation
Dry mouth
Dosage
75-100
mg/day
Duration
12 weeks
Availability
Nortriptyline
HCI-generic
(prescription
only)
Cost/dayb
$0.74 for 75
mg
a The information contained within this table is not comprehensive. Please see package insert for additional information.
b Prices based on retail prices of medication purchased at a national chain pharmacy, located in Madison, WI, April 2000.
c Generic brands of the patch recently became available and may be less expensive.