Nicotine replacement starting dose
Patch, gum, and lozenge strengths from cigarettes per day and time to first cigarette.
Inputs
1 of 2per day
First cigarette within 30 minutes of waking
When to use
- Starting nicotine replacement.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Combination therapy (patch plus a short-acting form) is more effective than one form alone.
- Heavy smokers (more than 40/day) may need more than 21 mg; titrate to withdrawal symptoms.
Why use
Label-based starting doses with the taper.
Patch: more than 10 cigarettes/day → 21 mg; 10 or fewer → 14 mg. Gum/lozenge: first cigarette within 30 min → 4 mg; otherwise 2 mg