Table 2.

Summary of Fagerstrom & Hughes review of the safety of smoking and concomitant NRT use[37]

Study reviewed	NRT treatment given	Blood nicotine concentrations	Safety conclusions
Foulds et al, 1992	16+ cigarettes per day (cpd) & 15 milligram (mg) transdermal patch (TP) over 16 hrs	Baseline: 37 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml), Placebo: 36 ng/ml, 15 mg TP: 44 ng/ml.	Participants experienced almost no subjective toxic effects whilst wearing the patch
Pickworth, Bunker & Henningfield, 1994	13+ cpd & 22 mg, 44 mg TP over 24 hrs	Baseline: 30 ng/ml, Placebo: 19 ng/ml, 22 mg TP: 39 ng/ml, 44 mg TP: 63 ng/ml.	No adverse subjective experiences were reported.
Mahmarian et al, 1997	8+ cpd & 14 mg TP over 24 hrs	Baseline 16 ng/ml, 14 mg TP: 24 ng/ml, 21 mg TP: 30 ng/ml.	Only adverse effects noted were nausea & vomiting in 2 patients.
Zevin, Jacob & Benowitz, 1998	Smoking ad libitum & 21 mg, 42 mg, 63 mg patch over 8 hours	Placebo: 20 ng/ml, 63 mg TP: 60 ng/ml.	No additional haemodynamic effects of TP on heart rate, blood pressure, noradrenaline, white blood cell count, fibrinogen, haematocrit, cortisol, or lipids. No adverse reactions.
Carpenter et al, 2000	11+ cpd & TP, gum or inhaler	Lower than 22 mg TP: 54% increase, Higher than 22 mg TP: 190% increase.	Number of cpd reduced by 43% and CO by 31%.