Benefit of 25 mg nicotine patch dose established during week one
Åke Westin, Associate Director, Biometrics and Clinical Data Systems, McNeil AB, Helsingborg, Sweden and Nicola Radley, Medical Category Manager, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Limited, Maidenhead, UK

Abstract
Abstinence during the first week of quit attempts is a good predictor of long-term outcome. Comparison of relapse patterns in 3,575 subjects from the CEASE study treated with 15 mg/16h
or 25 mg / 16 hour nicotine patches (Nicorette® patch, McNeil AB) was performed to study when the higher dose benefit was established.

Relative risks of relapse (15 mg vs placebo and 25 mg vs 15 mg) were calculated at one week and at following visits (weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 22, 26, 52) using a Continuation Ratio model, calculating success rate as the proportion of those subjects still abstinent from the previous visit.

Comparison of 15 mg and placebo patches shows significant differences in relapse rate, favouring active patches during week one. The 25 mg and 15 mg patch comparison also demonstrated a significant dose dependent effect during week one, favouring higher dose. Over time, no further differences in relapse rate were seen, and the benefits of higher nicotine dosing remained.

Conclusion: The dose dependent efficacy of nicotine patch treatment was established during the first week of treatment and remained over time.