Smoking Cessation Leadership Center

Pharmacotherapy

Currently, the US food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves two general classes of drugs for cessation: nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) and psychotropic drugs. Please refer to the tables below for information and then contact your physician to discuss your best options.

NRT Options
Nicotine Gum
Treatment duration: up to12 weeks. Over the counter options only.

Nicotine Patch
Treatment duration: 8 weeks. Both over the counter and prescritpion options.

Nicotine Lozenge
Treatment duration: 12 weeks. Over the counter options only.

Nicotine Nasal Spray
Treatment duration: 3-6 months. Prescription only.

Nicotine Inhaler
Treatment duration: up to 6 months. Prescription only.

Psychotropic Medication
Bupropion SR
Treatment duration: 7-12 weeks with maintenance up to 6 months. Prescription only.

The Smoking Cessation Leadership Center (SCLC) provides links on its website to other websites that are not under its control. These links are provided for reference only and are not intended as an endorsement by the SCLC nor a guarantee regarding the quality of information found on the linked websites.