Some researchers say that smokers can improve the odds of breaking their nicotine addiction if they start using replacement therapies like gums or patches for a few weeks before quitting, Medical News Today reported March 16.

"It's been suggested that if a smoker starts using nicotine substitutes about a fortnight before quitting cigarettes, they are significantly more likely to remain smoke-free six months later," said researcher Chris Bullen of the University of Auckland (New Zealand) School of Population Health. "We want to test this idea in a properly controlled, randomized trial."

Bullen said that the theory might hold water because smokers are under tremendous stress when they quit, making it harder to incorporate using patches or gum into their daily routine.

"If a person first becomes used to the patch or gum, it might make the transition to being smoke-free easier because a crucial part of their behavior has already changed," he said. "Another theory is that the combination of cigarettes with an additional source of nicotine 'saturates' the brain nicotine receptors. Individuals might lose some of their desire for cigarettes before trying to completely give them up."

The study led by Bullen will compare two groups of subjects: those given patches or gum two weeks before they quit and those given nicotine-replacement therapies on the day they quit. "Using nicotine gum or patches while still smoking is very safe," said Bullen. "We will track how study participants respond in the days immediately after they quit. And we will continue to monitor them through to the six-month milestone, which is regarded as a critical make-or-break date when assessing quitting success."