Humana HealthBeat Transcript Archive

Once you make the decision to quit, the next thing to think about is--how? Two new studies show that pregnant women may benefit from the nicotine patch, but teenagers don't.

Pregnant women who smoke increase their risk of pregnancy complications, delivering a small preterm baby, or even miscarrying or delivering a stillborn.

Researchers found that the level of nicotine delivered by the patch to women in their third trimester was no greater than the amount delivered by a cigarette. But because the patch delivers the nicotine in a steady dose, rather than the concentrated jolt of nicotine produced by a cigarette, it actually caused less distress for the fetus. The patch also eliminates the fetus' exposure to the other toxins in cigarettes.

In the earlier trimesters, toxins can be more harmful to the developing fetus; so ideally, the use of nicotine should be avoided. But if a pregnant woman can't quit on her own, it's worth a discussion with the doctor-and the patch should only be used in pregnancy under the supervision of a physician.

As for the teenagers, the patch was not found to be as helpful. A study of 101 teenagers who used the patch for six weeks and underwent behavior therapy found that only about 10 percent of the teens had stopped smoking after 6 weeks and only 5 percent had stopped smoking at the 6 month follow up.

The researchers surveyed the teens about what they thought would help them quit smoking. They recommended support and encouragement, keeping cigarettes away from them or not smoking near them and education on how to quit.

February 28
Nicotine Patch
	Once you make the decision to quit, the next thing to think about is--how? Two new studies show that pregnant women may benefit from the nicotine patch, but teenagers don't. Pregnant women who smoke increase their risk of pregnancy complications, delivering a small preterm baby, or even miscarrying or delivering a stillborn. Researchers found that the level of nicotine delivered by the patch to women in their third trimester was no greater than the amount delivered by a cigarette. But because the patch delivers the nicotine in a steady dose, rather than the concentrated jolt of nicotine produced by a cigarette, it actually caused less distress for the fetus. The patch also eliminates the fetus' exposure to the other toxins in cigarettes. In the earlier trimesters, toxins can be more harmful to the developing fetus; so ideally, the use of nicotine should be avoided. But if a pregnant woman can't quit on her own, it's worth a discussion with the doctor-and the patch should only be used in pregnancy under the supervision of a physician. As for the teenagers, the patch was not found to be as helpful. A study of 101 teenagers who used the patch for six weeks and underwent behavior therapy found that only about 10 percent of the teens had stopped smoking after 6 weeks and only 5 percent had stopped smoking at the 6 month follow up. The researchers surveyed the teens about what they thought would help them quit smoking. They recommended support and encouragement, keeping cigarettes away from them or not smoking near them and education on how to quit.
	References and Resources: Ogburn PL Jr, Hurt Rd, et al. Nicotine patch use in pregnant smokers: nicotine and cotinine levels and fetal effects. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1999 Sep;181(3):736-43 Hurt RD, Croghan GA, et al. Nicotine patch therapy in 101 adolescent smokers: efficacy, withdrawal symptom relief and carbon monoxide and plasma cotinine levels. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 2000 Jan; 154(1):31-7 Quitting Smoking American Cancer Society www.cancer.org/tobacco/