Smoking Cessation Inhaler may be More Effective

Reported March 01, 2010

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Trying to butt out for good? Duke University researchers have found a new way to help people stop smoking.

Researchers say the new technology may be more effective and more tolerable than Nicotrol inhaler. Nicotrol inhaler is a therapy that delivers nicotine vapor through the mouth up to the upper airways into the blood stream.

Duke's new technology uses a unique method to deliver nicotine to the lungs faster than Nicotrol. Duke's method shows immediate relief of withdrawal symptoms and also replicates sensations that are pleasurable to smokers.

Researchers observed nine healthy smokers who each inhaled 10 puffs of nicotine pyruvate (Duke's method) in increasing doses, 10 puffs of Nicotrol/Nicorette inhaler, and 10 puffs of room air. Blood was drawn before and after each set of inhalations. Researchers found there were less irritation complaints and fewer cravings after inhaling the nicotine pyruvate.

"Compared to the current nicotine vapor inhaler," Jed Rose, Ph.D., director of the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research, was quoted as saying, "we are able to give smokers more nicotine, although still less than a cigarette, with less irritation, resulting in reduced cravings. Thus we are able to achieve a therapeutic effect with greater tolerability."

SOURCE: Duke University Medical Center, February 27, 2010