Nicotine

[MAF] Nicotine [Nicotinell] Transdermal Patch 7 mg/24 hours, 14 mg/24 hours, and 21 mg/24 hours

1. As an aid for smoking cessation in patients who are willing to quit and enrolled in a smoking cessation counselling program, with a documented Fagerstrom score of three and above. The smoking cessation counselling programme should include a minimum of three counselling sessions, and counselling should be delivered by a healthcare professional trained in smoking cessation counselling, at an approved setting. Nicotine replacement therapies should not be used in combination with varenicline for smoking cessation.

[MAF] Nicotine [Nicotinell] Lozenge 1 mg

1. As an aid for smoking cessation in patients who are willing to quit and enrolled in a smoking cessation counselling program, with a documented Fagerstrom score of three and above. The smoking cessation counselling programme should include a minimum of three counselling sessions, and counselling should be delivered by a healthcare professional trained in smoking cessation counselling, at an approved setting. Nicotine replacement therapies should not be used in combination with varenicline for smoking cessation.

[MAF] Nicotine [Nicorette] Chewing Gum 2 mg, 4 mg

1. As an aid for smoking cessation in patients who are willing to quit and enrolled in a smoking cessation counselling program, with a documented Fagerstrom score of three and above. The smoking cessation counselling programme should include a minimum of three counselling sessions, and counselling should be delivered by a healthcare professional trained in smoking cessation counselling, at an approved setting. Nicotine replacement therapies should not be used in combination with varenicline for smoking cessation.

Legend

This section shows the following:

• Subsidy Scheme and Clinical Indication (where applicable) of drugs listed in the MOH List of Subsidised Drugs

• Subsidised brands of vaccines recommended in the National Immunisation Schedules listed in the MOH Subsidised Vaccine List

• Cancer Drug and Clinical Indication listed in the MediShield Life Cancer Drug List

As this website is updated monthly, please refer to MOH List of Subsidised Drugs, MOH Subsidised Vaccine List or MediShield Life Cancer Drug List for the most updated information.

19/12/2022 Nicotine replacement therapies to aid smoking cessation

The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:

• Nicotine 7 mg/ 24 hours, 14 mg/ 24 hours, and 21 mg/ 24 hours transdermal patches (Nicotinell);

• Nicotine 2 mg and 4 mg chewing gums (Nicorette); and

• Nicotine 1 mg lozenge (Nicotinell)

to be used as an aid for smoking cessation in patients who are willing to quit and enrolled in a smoking cessation counselling program, with a documented Fagerstrom score of three and above. The smoking cessation counselling programme should include a minimum of three counselling sessions, and counselling should be delivered by a healthcare professional trained in smoking cessation counselling, at an approved setting. Nicotine replacement therapies should not be used in combination with varenicline for smoking cessation.

Funding status

[R] Nicotine 7 mg/ 24 hours, 14 mg/ 24 hours, 21 mg/ 24 hours transdermal patches (Nicotinell), nicotine 2 mg and 4 mg chewing gums (Nicorette) and nicotine 1 mg lozenge (Nicotinell) are recommended for inclusion on the MOH Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indication from 1 February 2023.

[NR] MAF assistance does not apply to any strengths of nicotine transdermal patch (Nicorette) and nicotine chewing gum (Nicotinell).

Legend

This section displays recommendation from the MOH Drug Advisory Committee for subsidy and appropriate use of the drug as extracted from the Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE) Drug Guidances. As this website is updated monthly, please refer to the ACE website for the most updated information.

Note:

General availability information reflected is based on the Public Healthcare Institutions’ (PHI) formulary on what is commonly used for treating their patient population and may or may not be available for patients not under the care of that institution. It does not reflect the PHI’s actual inventory availability and is subjected to change. Please consult the Public Hospitals or Polyclinics for details on availability and supply restrictions/considerations. General availability is not tied to any brand unless otherwise stated.

Users are to consult the respective PHIs for actual inventory availability and supply restrictions/consideration