The above question is specifically for those suffering from thrombosis and are on anticoagulents (eg: coumadin/warfarin). Is there any conflict if both is used simultaneously? Legit sources would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
First of all, you should always undertake a new therapy while under the care of a physician.
There are a lot of myths out there about the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT / the patch) and a "link" to cardiovascular probelms.
FACT: Use of NRT while smoking does not increase the smoker's cardiovascular risk.
Smokers are already at high risk for cardiovascular events. Smoking causes serious cardiovascular effects such as atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death. These health hazards are caused primarily by cigarette combustion components, not nicotine. Nicotine affects the cardiovascular system by acting as a stimulant, e.g. by increasing heart rate and heart contractility. These effects do not increase with higher nicotine intake, which may occur when nicotine is obtained from two sources at once, such as smoking while using NRT. Thus, the cardiovascular risk of smoking while using NRT does not appear to be greater than the risk from smoking alone.
A widespread misconception exists among physicians and the public that smoking while using the nicotine patch poses additional dangers to a smoker's cardiovascular system. This myth likely originated from 6 highly publicized case reports in the media in 1992 about individuals who had suffered heart attacks while smoking and using the patch. A subsequent investigation found no evidence of increased toxicity among smokers using the patch.
The Lung Health Study, the largest study on the safety of NRT, and the only study to date investigating long-term NRT use (up to 5 years), found no statistical increase of cardiovascular risk among those who used tobacco and NRT together. In another study, smokers on high-dose patch therapy (up to 63 mg/24 hr nicotine patches) did not experience any short-term adverse effects on their cardiovascular system.
It is more dangerous for patients with heart disease to continue to smoke than to use NRT. Given the seriousness of their medical condition, cardiac patients who cannot quit should be among those first considered for NRT.
It is extremely dangerous for patients with heart disease to continue to smoke. Smoking causes the activation of coagulation pathways and the promotion of thrombosis, which can cause heart attacks. A cardiac patient who smokes also exposes himself/herself to significant heart toxins such as carbon monoxide and oxidant gases which reduce oxygen delivery to the heart. As mentioned earlier, tobacco-caused heart disease is caused primarily by toxins other than nicotine. However, nicotine may aggravate cardiovascular disease though its stimulant effects.
Nonetheless, studies consistently show that the nicotine patch is safe among patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiac patients who used the nicotine patch were not found to have greater rates of death, heart attacks, or cardiac-related hospitalizations compared to those who did not use NRT. NRT should be considered for cardiac patients who cannot quit; however, NRT dosage should be closely monitored by the physician.
There is no contraindication on the part of coumadin/warfarin against using Nicotine Replacement Therapy. But again, you should do so under the care of a physician.
Sources: coumadin product monograph available at:
- http://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_coumadin.pdf
AND
Rethinking Stop-Smoking Medications: Myths and Facts (Ontario Medical Association JUne, 1999)
I would definitely not use until your physician clears. I say that because a dear friend of mine had an embolic stroke and died when she was using the patch and she was only 24. Her doc told us that the patch exacerbated her condition.
References :
Check with your doctor before trying anything. They will tell you what is best for you.
You might also want to ask about Chantix. It's a pill to help quit smoking. I started on it about 4 months ago and still have no desire to smoke.
References :
First of all, you should always undertake a new therapy while under the care of a physician.
There are a lot of myths out there about the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT / the patch) and a "link" to cardiovascular probelms.
FACT: Use of NRT while smoking does not increase the smoker's cardiovascular risk.
Smokers are already at high risk for cardiovascular events. Smoking causes serious cardiovascular effects such as atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death. These health hazards are caused primarily by cigarette combustion components, not nicotine. Nicotine affects the cardiovascular system by acting as a stimulant, e.g. by increasing heart rate and heart contractility. These effects do not increase with higher nicotine intake, which may occur when nicotine is obtained from two sources at once, such as smoking while using NRT. Thus, the cardiovascular risk of smoking while using NRT does not appear to be greater than the risk from smoking alone.
A widespread misconception exists among physicians and the public that smoking while using the nicotine patch poses additional dangers to a smoker's cardiovascular system. This myth likely originated from 6 highly publicized case reports in the media in 1992 about individuals who had suffered heart attacks while smoking and using the patch. A subsequent investigation found no evidence of increased toxicity among smokers using the patch.
The Lung Health Study, the largest study on the safety of NRT, and the only study to date investigating long-term NRT use (up to 5 years), found no statistical increase of cardiovascular risk among those who used tobacco and NRT together. In another study, smokers on high-dose patch therapy (up to 63 mg/24 hr nicotine patches) did not experience any short-term adverse effects on their cardiovascular system.
It is more dangerous for patients with heart disease to continue to smoke than to use NRT. Given the seriousness of their medical condition, cardiac patients who cannot quit should be among those first considered for NRT.
It is extremely dangerous for patients with heart disease to continue to smoke. Smoking causes the activation of coagulation pathways and the promotion of thrombosis, which can cause heart attacks. A cardiac patient who smokes also exposes himself/herself to significant heart toxins such as carbon monoxide and oxidant gases which reduce oxygen delivery to the heart. As mentioned earlier, tobacco-caused heart disease is caused primarily by toxins other than nicotine. However, nicotine may aggravate cardiovascular disease though its stimulant effects.
Nonetheless, studies consistently show that the nicotine patch is safe among patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiac patients who used the nicotine patch were not found to have greater rates of death, heart attacks, or cardiac-related hospitalizations compared to those who did not use NRT. NRT should be considered for cardiac patients who cannot quit; however, NRT dosage should be closely monitored by the physician.
There is no contraindication on the part of coumadin/warfarin against using Nicotine Replacement Therapy. But again, you should do so under the care of a physician.
Sources: coumadin product monograph available at:
- http://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_coumadin.pdf
AND
Rethinking Stop-Smoking Medications: Myths and Facts (Ontario Medical Association JUne, 1999)
References :
HIV/STI Prevention and Outreach Educator x 6 years