Ken Wassum & Abigail Halperin

Session 13: Behavioral Counseling and Pharmacotherapy

09/14/2011

Counseling & Pharmacotherapy

Who Calls the Quitline?

• Smoked / used tobacco >20 years• Not well educated• Lower income• Motivated to quit• Confidence lower than motivation• Chronic illness• High nicotine dependence

Theoretical Counseling Models

Social Cognitive Theory

Transtheoretical Stages of Change

Brief Solution Focused Therapy

Counseling Tools

Cognitive Behavioral

Motivational Interviewing

Education

Modeling

Skill building

Reinforcement

Counseling Focus

Tobacco only Tobacco only

Counselor backgrounds

Counselor backgrounds

Counselor training

Counselor training

Facilitation Goals

• Develop rapport and trust• Get clarity on outcome goal • Provide encouragement • Enhance motivation and confidence• Demonstrate empathy and non-judgment• Engage the caller in the quitting process• Demonstrate subject matter expertise

Content Goals

• Provide basic information about the nature of tobacco use and dependence

• Educate caller about what to expect when quitting• Help caller create a plan to quit• Teach problem-solving and coping skills• Provide medication decision support• Address relapse prevention

Smoke-free policies

Smoke-free policies Tobacco-taxTobacco-tax

Article 14Article 14Healthcare

referralHealthcare

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Integrating Pharmacotherapy into Quitlines

Pharmacotherapy

Medications significantly improve success rates

* Includes pregnant women, smokeless tobacco users, light smokers, and adolescents.

“Providers should encourage all patients attempting to quit to use effective medications for tobacco dependence treatment, except where contraindicated or for specific populations* for which there is insufficient evidence of effectiveness.”

Quit Rates for Cessation Medications

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nicotine gum Nicotinepatch

Nicotinelozenge

Nicotinenasal spray

Nicotineinhaler

Bupropion Varenicline

Active drugPlacebo

Graph reprinted with permission, Rx for Change, The Regents of the University of California, University of Southern California, and Western University of Health Sciences.

Per

cen

t q

uit 19.5

14.6

11.5

8.6

16.4

8.8

23.9

11.8

17.1

9.1

20.0

10.2 9.4

22.5

How does pharmacotherapy help people quit?

• Nicotine is physiologically addictive

• Medications help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms

• More medication => higher quit rates

Integrating Medication with Counseling in a Quitline Setting

• Great opportunity to combine counseling and medication to maximize quitting success

• Counselor training and support needs– Knowledge about medications– Protocols and algorithms– Informational tools and resources

• Access to medications– Options and challenges

Factors to consider in recommending pharmacotherapy

• All are safe, effective and well tolerated– Minor side-effects common/adverse events rare– Some use exclusions or contraindications

• Decision support assessment– Number of cigs per day and time to first cigarette– History of prior quit attempts/use of medication– Advantages/disadvantages of each medication– Personal preference

Pharmacotherapy Options• Nicotine replacement products

– Non-prescription: Patches, Gum or Lozenge– Prescription: Oral Inhaler or Nasal Spray

• Non-nicotine products (by prescription only)- Bupropion SR (Zyban) and Varenicline

(Chantix)

Nicotine Gum (2 mg, 4 mg)

Advantages May satisfy oral cravings and delay weight gain Titrate use to manage withdrawal symptoms

Disadvantages Visible use Difficult with dentures or jaw problems/TMJ Must use proper technique to minimize side-effects and

maximize effectiveness

• 2 mg for those smoking less than 25 cpd• 4 mg for those smoking 25 or more cpd• Patients should use ad lib but not exceed 24

pieces per day

Transdermal Nicotine Patch

• 21 mg for those smoking 11+ cigarettes per day• 14 mg for those smoking 5-10 cigarettes per day• 7 mg for those smoking 1-4 cigarettes per day

Advantages Provides consistent nicotine levels Easy to use and conceal Fewer compliance issuesDisadvantages Reactions to adhesive are common Cannot titrate the dose

Nicotine Lozenge (2 mg, 4 mg)

• 2 mg if smoke > 30 minutes after waking• 4 mg if smoke within the first 30 minutes• Should not exceed 20 lozenges per day

Advantages May satisfy oral cravings Easy to use and conceal Titrate to manage withdrawal symptomsDisadvantages Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, hiccups,

heartburn)

Nicotine Nasal Spray

Advantages Easily titrated with rapid control of withdrawal symptomsDisadvantages Nasal or throat irritation common Dependence can result Must wait 5 minutes before driving or operating heavy

machinery Those with chronic nasal disorders or severe reactive airway

disease should not use

• Rapid onset of action• Doses per hour: 1-2• Maximum doses per day: 40• Maximum duration of treatment: 3 months

Nicotine Inhaler

Advantages Easily titrated to rapidly manage withdrawal symptoms Mimics hand-to-mouth ritual

Disadvantages Mouth and throat irritation common

• Absorbed through oral mucosa (not lung)• 12 week course• Initial dose of 6 to 16 cartridges per day• Frequent continuous puffing for 20 minutes

Bupropion SR (Zyban) • Start 1 week before quit date• 150 mg 1x per day for 3 days• 150 mg 2x per day for duration (7-12 weeks)

Advantages Easy to use Can be taken with NRT May help with depressionDisadvantages Seizure risk is increased Avoid or use with caution in those with history of seizures,

head trauma, eating disorders or heavy alcohol use Use contraindicated with certain medications

Varenicline (Chantix or Champix)

Advantages Unique mechanism of action (partial nicotinic receptor agonist;

lessens withdrawal symptoms and inhibits smoking “reward”) Easy to useDisadvantages Nausea common (up to 40% of users) FDA “black box” warning Use with caution in those with psychiatric diagnosis or history

• Start 1 week before quit date• 0.5mg 1x per day for days 1-3• 0.5mg 2x per day for days 4-7• 1.0 mg 2x per day for 12 weeks

Panelist QuestionsCounseling & Pharmacotherapy

• Is the model your counselors use based on practice, theory or both? Please describe your model.

• How does your quitline address use of medications to quit? – Do you help callers choose medications?– Do you explain how to use the medications?– Are you able provide free or low-cost access to

medications?

• Do you have advice to offer those who are developing or expanding new quitlines?

Thank you!