Personalized nicotine patch dosing may boost quit rates

NCT ID NCT01622998

First seen Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether letting smokers adjust their own nicotine patch dose—based on their smoking history and withdrawal symptoms—helps them stay smoke-free longer than the standard fixed-dose patch. Adult smokers who smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day and are motivated to quit will be assigned to either the flexible dosing approach or usual care, with follow-up over a year. The main goal is to see if the flexible approach leads to higher rates of continuous abstinence, confirmed by breath tests, at 52 weeks after quitting.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
transdermal nicotine patch (with optional dose adjustment) and nicotine inhaler as rescue
What this could lead to
If flexible, patient-directed nicotine patch dosing works better than the standard fixed dose, it could improve long-term quit rates for smokers.
What could go wrong
The trial is relatively small and relies on self-reported abstinence confirmed by breath tests; results may not apply to all smokers, and nicotine replacement can cause skin irritation or other side effects.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

nicotine dependence Smoking Cessation

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4W7, Canada

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