Usage patterns of transdermal nicotine when purchased as a non-prescription medicine from pharmacies

Objective-To assess nicotine patch use in smokers who purchased the product as a non-prescription medicine from pharmacies. Design-A questionnaire administered at the time of purchase. Setting-Community pharmacies throughout New Zealand. Subjects-A total of 805 male and female purchasers of nicotine patches aged 18 through 87 years. Main outcome measures-Patterns of usage including self-reported smoking history, previous quit-smoking attempts, previous and current use of transdermal nicotine and other products, side effects, and concomitant smoking. Results-Most respondents (74%) had attempted to quit smoking previously, many of whom (53%) had used a non-prescription nicotine replacement product. Approximately 60% of purchasers were first-time users. For those continuing a course of treatment, there was no evidence of use for longer than the manufacturer's recommendation (12 weeks). Twenty-eight per cent of respondents reported continuing smoking while using transdermal nicotine, although the number of cigarettes smoked was much less than in the reported smoking history. Side effects were reported by 24% of patch: users in the current course, but there was no evidence of significant safety problems. Conclusions-This survey provides preliminary data on the non-prescription usage of transdermal nicotine when purchased through pharmacies.