CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Smoking cessation - Management
What drug treatment should I prescribe for children over 12 years of age to help them stop smoking?
Basis for recommendation
- The recommendation to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in children over 12 years of age is in line with advice issued by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) [MHRA, 2005a]. The CHM advises that, because data on safety and efficacy are limited, duration should be restricted to 12 weeks. Treatment may be continued longer than 12 weeks under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
- NRT to assist smoking reduction before quitting is not recommended in this age group because treatment is likely to exceed the recommended duration of 12 weeks.
- Bupropion and varenicline are not recommended because they are not licensed for use in people younger than 18 years of age.
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement