Pharmacotherapy Options for Smoking Cessation
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Tobacco use can lead to serious health problems, disability, and death. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of developing these health problems. However, the long-term use of tobacco products that contain nicotine can cause physical dependence that may induce withdrawal symptoms when a patient tries to quit, and this, as well as other barriers, can impede a person from successfully quitting. Behavioral support may be combined with pharmacotherapy to provide patients with the ability to overcome these barriers. Pharmacists and other healthcare team members should work together to help patients develop an individualized plan to stop smoking.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify the harms and effects of smoking and the signs of nicotine withdrawal
- Compare the advantages of different over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy options
- Discuss the different mechanisms of action of prescription smoking cessation options
- Identify barriers a patient may face with smoking cessation
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Statistics Related to Smoking
III. Harm Caused by Smoking
IV. Drug Interactions Caused by Smoking
V. Benefits of Quitting Smoking
VI. Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
VII. Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy
1. Nicotine Replacement Options
2. Bupropion
3. Varenicline
4. Off-label Therapies
VIII. E-cigarettes and Vaping as an Alternative to Smoking
IX. Barriers to Smoking Cessation
X. Summary
From April 13, 2023 through April 13, 2026, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in the development of this activity: Amanda Mayer, PharmD, Jeff Goldberg, PharmD, BCPP, and Pamela M. Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS, was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".