Long-term effects of the Eclipse cigarette substitute and the nicotine inhaler in smokers not interested in quitting

This study investigated the long term use of Eclipse, a cigarette-like device that heats rather than burns tobacco, and the Nicorette oral inhaler, a nicotine replacement product, in a group of smokers not interested in quitting smoking. Subjects were recruited from a previous four-week controlled trial with the Eclipse and the inhaler (Fagerström, Hughes, Rasmussen, & Callas, 2000). Thirty eight subjects from the previous study were given the opportunity to continue to reduce their smoking for eight weeks and to choose Eclipse or the inhaler to aid reduction in cigarette smoking. If they did not like either of the two products they were allowed to smoke their own brand of cigarettes. A total of 39% percent chose to use the inhaler, 26% the Eclipse, and 34% neither. Number of cigarettes smoked per day decreased 86% with the Eclipse and 68% with the inhaler. Exhaled carbon monoxide increased 45% with Eclipse and decreased 47% with the inhaler. No differences were seen with craving for cigarettes between the products. Cigarette users showed stable values for cigarettes per day, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and nicotine/cotinine concentrations. These results replicate and extend our prior results; i.e. both Eclipse and inhaler clearly reduced smoking of traditional cigarettes and with no loss of effect over time. For Eclipse this was accompanied by maintenance of nicotine levels but increases in CO whereas for the inhaler this was accompanied by a reduction in CO intake.