Comparison of nicotine oral soluble film and nicotine lozenge on efficacy in relief of smoking cue-provoked acute craving after a single dose of treatment in low dependence smokers

• Published in: Psychopharmacology 2014-11, Vol.231 (22), p.4383-4391
• Main Authors: Du, Daniel, Nides, Mitchell, Borders, James, Selmani, Alex, Waverczak, William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Comparative studies; Craving - drug effects; Cues; Drug therapy; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurosciences; Nicotine; Nicotine - administration & dosage; Original Investigation; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pilot Projects; Psychiatry; Smoking; Smoking cessation; Smoking Prevention; Substance abuse treatment; Thin films; Tobacco Use Cessation Devices - standards; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0033-3158; 1432-2072
• DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3586-2

Rationale Pilot study results suggested that a new form of nicotine oral soluble film relieved smoking cue-provoked acute craving faster than nicotine lozenge or gum. The new nicotine film may provide smokers another choice to relieve acute craving. Objectives This study compared the efficacy of the 2.5 mg nicotine oral soluble film to 2 mg nicotine lozenge for acute relief of smoking cue-provoked craving. Methods A randomized, open label, active comparator controlled, parallel group study was conducted with 322 smokers enrolled. After 4 h of abstinence from smoking, eligible subjects were exposed to smoking cues as provocation. Immediately after the post-provocation baseline craving assessment using a 0–100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), subjects took a randomized single dose of either the 2.5 mg nicotine film or the 2 mg nicotine lozenge. Craving assessments were completed at 50 s, 3 min, 5 min, 7 min, 15 min, 20 min, 25 min and 30 min after drug administration. Results Both treatments reduced cue-induced craving and had similar maximum effects on craving relief. However, the 2.5 mg nicotine film relieved cue-induced craving to a greater degree than the 2 mg nicotine lozenge at 50 s (mean difference: −4.9, p  = 0.014), 3 min (mean difference: −6.7, p  = 0.011), and 5 min (mean difference: −5.6, p  = 0.049) post-treatment. Conclusions The study confirmed the results from the pilot study. The 2.5 mg nicotine film relieved cue-provoked craving much quicker than the 2 mg nicotine lozenge while both having similar maximum effects. Nicotine film could be useful to provide quick craving relief for low dependence smokers.