Nicotine lozenge efficacy in light smokers.

Abstract

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been proven to be effective in heterogeneous groups of smokers. However, analyses have not specifically examined efficacy among light smokers (< or =15 cigarettes per day). The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a nicotine lozenge in light smokers. We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial contrasting active 2mg nicotine lozenge with placebo, and contrasting light smokers (< or =15 cigarettes per day) with moderate-heavy smokers (>15 cigarettes per day). Participants were 917 smokers who smoked their first cigarette >30 min after waking, and were randomized to active (n = 459) or placebo (n = 458) lozenge. Biochemically verified continuous abstinence was measured at 6 weeks and 1 year. Nicotine lozenge significantly increased quit rates relative to placebo at 6 weeks (45.7% versus 31.1%; OR = 1.9 [1.3-2.8]) and at 1 year (19.2% versus 10.0%; OR = 2.3 [1.3-4.0]) among light smokers. Efficacy among light smokers did not differ from that among heavier smokers (ps>0.50). The nicotine lozenge is effective for light smokers.