title: Combination nicotine replacement therapy: strategies for initiation and tapering.
abstract: Several studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated the efficacy of combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for patients who wish to quit smoking. However, there is limited guidance with respect to initiation and tapering of combination NRT. We attempt to review the evidence and rationale behind combination NRT, present the dosing used in combination NRT studies, and propose a step-down approach for tapering of combination NRT with integration of behavioral strategies.
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (119), San Diego, CA 92161, USA. Electronic address: stephanie.hsia@va.gov.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hsia
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (119), San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gillman Drive, MC 0603, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: mgmyers@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (119), San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gillman Drive, MC 0603, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: timothy.chen@va.gov.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D016739:Behavior, Addictive; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Combination NRT; Combination nicotine; NRT; Nicotine; Nicotine gum; Nicotine lozenge; Nicotine patch; Nicotine replacement; Nicotine replacement therapy; Smoking; Smoking cessation; Tobacco; Tobacco use cessation; Tobacco use cessation products