In addition to intervention and counseling, clients who smoke may benefit from information and education on quit smoking medications available over-the-counter and by prescription.

In fact, it has been found that use of pharmacological interventions can approximately double the long-term abstinence rates over those produced by placebo interventions.

Pharmacological therapy should be recommended to all clients, except in the presence of special circumstances or in cases of contraindications. In special circumstances or in cases of contraindications, nurses must work in collaboration with the client’s physician to determine the appropriate treatment for the client.

Special circumstances may include but are not limited to the following: populations with co-morbidity factors, adolescent smokers, pregnant/breastfeeding women, those clients smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes/day.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

• Provides a "clean" alternative source of nicotine to replace nicotine from cigarettes and reduce intensity and incidence of withdrawal symptoms.

Prescription Pharmacotherapy

• Medications avaiable by prescription that may double the long-term abstinence rates of persons who smoke, compared to placebo.