The nicotine patch is one tool developed for those who wish to quit smoking. As opposed to anti-smoking drugs or smoking vaccines, nicotine patches, nasal sprays and gums are nicotine-replacement therapies, designed to help the body get accustomed to decreasing dosages of nicotine over a certain period of time.

To futher define the therapy, scientists have developed a blood test that can determine the rate at which a particular patient can metabolize nicotine, and therefore differentiate those patients who are more likely to benefit from standard nicotine patches from those who need higher dose patch or perhaps even an entirely different therapy. Those who metabolize nicotine faster may experience more cravings and therefore need a higher dose patch or perhaps a nasal spray which may be used more often according to craving attacks.

The researchers are hoping to develop a less invasive method of determining the nicotine metabolism rates, possibly using saliva or urine samples.

More details about this research from Penn Medicine (Blood Test Predicts Success of Quitting Smoking Using the Nicotine Patch). The results of the study will be published in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (available to subscribers).

[Photo: British Heart Foundation]