Formulary and Prescribing Guidelines SECTION 17: NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
17.1 Introduction These guidelines should be used in conjunction with SEPT No Smoking Policy (HRP20) and for service users who are 12 years old and over. All inpatients should be encouraged to stop smoking as part of their Care Programme Approach (CPA). Smoking Cessation Advisers are available to offer support to service users. All Licensed Nicotine Replacement therapy (NRT) for use by inpatients must be prescribed by a doctor (or a non-medical prescriber) and stored with other medicines. Service users should not store their own NRT. Product, dosage and frequency will be determined by the MDT and strict parameters (such as the duration of NRT) included in the care plan. The length of time a patient has been smoking and the number of cigarettes/e-cigarettes smoked each day will need to be taken into consideration. Community patients can access stop smoking services via their GP or community pharmacy. E-cigarettes users wishing to remain abstinent should be provided with the same level of support and interventions as tobacco smokers wishing to quit. E- cigarettes and NRT products should not be used concurrently. The MMC has evaluated current evidence and concluded that e-cigarettes should not be prescribed or encouraged as a form of unlicensed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Champix)should only be offered if the risks have been fully assessed and it is felt that the benefits outweigh the risks. A record of the decision must be recorded in the patient s healthcare record. Bupropion has significant potential to lower seizure thresholds and thus, can interact with many other psychotropic medications 1,2. Varenicline is strongly associated with the emergence of suicidal thoughts/behaviour and its use in patients with a history of psychiatric illness is only to be undertaken with extreme caution. Thus, NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) should be the first line pharmacological therapy for smoking cessation offered within SEPT 3,5. 17.2 Precautions Prescribers should consider that although a service user may not smoke in the inpatient setting, they may do so when on leave or discharged. This may affect plasma levels of their prescribed medicines, which may then need to be adjusted. Most warnings for NRT also apply to smoking, but the risk of continued smoking outweighs any risk of nicotine preparations. NRT should be used with caution in service users who have cardiovascular disease; peripheral vascular disease; hyperthyroidism; phaeochromocytoma; diabetes mellitus; renal or hepatic impairment; history of gastritis; peptic ulcers; pregnancy and breast feeding mothers. 17.3 Approved NRT Products Formulation Dosage 3,5 Instructions for use 3,5 Nicotine Patch (24hr) 21mg/14mg/7mg For individuals smoking 20 or more cigarettes daily, or those smoking less than 20 cigarettes daily, but who have severe withdrawal on 14 Early morning/night cravings: apply patch for 24H OR 2
Nicotine Inhalator (15mg cartridge) Nicotine Lozenges 1mg,2mg,4mg mg/day patch: Apply 21mg/24 hours patch daily. For individuals smoking less than 20 cigarettes daily: Apply 14 mg/24 hours patch daily. Withdraw gradually, reducing the dose every 3 to 4 weeks: review treatment if abstinence not achieved in 3 months. Initially use between 6 and 12 cartridges (15mg nicotine per cartridge) a day for up to 8 weeks. Then reduce number of cartridges by half over next 2 weeks. Then stop completely after a further 2 weeks. Review treatment if abstinence not achieved within 3 months. 1 lozenge should be used every 1-2 hours when the urge to smoke occurs. If smoking less that 20 cigarettes a day use the 1 or 2 mg lozenges. If smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day use the 2 or 4mg lozenges. Max 15 lozenges a day. No early morning/night cravings or pt complains of vivid dreams : apply patch for 16H each morning and remove before bedtime. Apply to dry, non-hairy skin on hip, chest or upper arm. Remove after 16/24 hours. Site next patch on different area. Avoid using the same area for several days Inhale when urge to smoke occurs or to prevent cravings. The amount of nicotine from 1 puff is less than that from a cigarette, therefore it may be necessary to inhale more often than when smoking a cigarette Lozenges to be allowed to dissolve slowly in the mouth periodically moving from one side of the mouth to the other. Lozenges last between 10 and 30 minutes. Nicotine gum and spray are not approved formulations 17.3 Interactions with Medication Cigarette smoke is a potent inducer of the cytochrome P450 1A2 isoenzyme. Various medications are metabolised using this enzyme and therefore their metabolism may be affected if a patient starts or stops smoking. Listed below are medications that could be affected by a patient s abstinence from smoking. The BNF or drug SPC should be consulted for up to date information. Drug Haloperidol Effect of smoking cessation on drug levels 4,6 Comments,6 Serum levels may increase by up to 23% due to reduced metabolism Haloperidol dose may need to be decreased if adverse effects such as EPSEs increase/emerge. Clozapine Olanzapine Fluphenazine Plasma concentrations may increase significantly (up to 72%) Serum levels increase significantly (up to 21%) Plasma levels may increase Decrease dose. Measure levels before quitting, and 2 weeks after: earlier if side effects occur. Significantly lower doses may be required upon discontinuation of smoking. May need to decrease dose especially if adverse effects such as drowsiness or hypotension emerge. Monitor symptoms/side-effects (EPSE), and reduce dose as necessary. Fluvoxamine Increased plasma levels May need to decrease dose. 3
Drug Effect of smoking cessation on drug levels 4,6 Comments,6 Propranolol (beta blockers) Increased plasma levels May need to decrease dose monitor for increased drop in BP and heart rate. Duloxetine Serum levels may increase (up to 50%) May need to decrease dose. Flecainide Increased plasma levels. May need to decrease dose. Insulin Theophylline & aminophylline H 2 antagonists May need less insulin when smoking has been stopped (nicotine causes release of catecholamines, and smoking decreases absorption of insulin.) Increased plasma levels- as theophylline has a narrow therapeutic window, toxicity is possible. Smoking appears to reduce the serum levels of cimetidine and ranitidine but not famotidine. Review dose of insulin and monitor for hypoglycaemia may need less insulin. Decrease dose by 25 33% ( typically a third 7 ) within 1 week of stopping smoking. Monitor patient (for palpitations and/or nausea) as further alterations in dosage may be required. May need to decrease cimetidine dose or use alternative H 2 antagonist. Speak to pharmacy or consult literature for further detailed information. 17.4 NICE Guidelines Smoking Cessation in Secondary Care: acute, maternity and mental health services. Nice Public Health Guidance No 40.Nov 2013 5 Three pharmacotherapies have been recommended by NICE with respect to assistance in giving up smoking. NRT (nicotine replacement therapies), varenicline and bupropion work best when combined with support such as the NHS Stop Smoking Service. SEPT is only offering bupropion and varenicline if a full risk assessment has been carried out. NRT should only be offered as part of an abstinent contingent treatment. That is, despite their licensed indications (smoking reduction and cessation), NICE only recommends their use in smoking cessation (unless patient is enrolled in a nicotineassisted reduction to stop (NARS) strategy and only if it is part of a properly designed and conducted research study). Two weekly prescriptions are only to be repeated if abstinence from smoking can be verified Combinations of nicotine patch with other nicotine formulations should be offered to the patient if previous attempts utilising a single NRT formulation have been unsuccessful or who shows a high level of dependence on nicotine. Such formulations include gum, inhalator, lozenge, and nasal spray. Allow patient to choose the formulation which they consider would work best for them. Gum and Nasal spray are not offered in SEPT. If unsuccessful using NRT a repeat prescription should not usually be offered within 6 months, unless special circumstances prevail. NRT, bupropion or varenicline should NEVER be used in any combination. 4
Varenicline or bupropion may be offered to people with unstable cardiovascular disorder, subject to clinical judgement. Neither varenicline or bupropion should be offered to young people under 18, or to breast-feeding or pregnant women References 1. Psychotropic Drug Directory 2014, Bazire S., Lloyd-Reinhold Communications LLP 2. Summary of Product Characteristics for Individual Drugs [accessed Jan. 2011] http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/default.aspx 3. Stockley, I. Stockley s Drug Interactions. 6 th Ed. 4. BNF 68 current edition September 2014.= 5. Smoking Cessation in Secondary Care: acute, maternity and mental health services. Nice Public Health Guidance No 40 Nov 2013. guidance.nice.org.uk/ph48 6. Medicines Information Centre Pharmacy Department. UKMI (UK Medicines Information) Smoking and Drug Interactions 2004. http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/library/what_we_do/clinical_services/public_health/s moking_interactions.pdf 5