Dawaa Reference

Clinical reference

Smoking Cessation

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources3 sources

WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Tobacco Dependence 2021 · Zyban 150 mg prolonged release tablets SmPC sections 4.2-4.4 (eMC product 3827) · Nicorette 2 mg Gum SmPC sections 4.2 and 4.4 (eMC product 1089)

Verified against2 documents
  • Nicorette 2 mg Gum SmPC sections 4.2 and 4.4 (eMC product 1089)
  • Zyban 150 mg prolonged release tablets SmPC sections 4.2-4.4 (eMC product 3827)

Verified date2026-08

1

NICOTINE

1st line

Strength2 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

Chew 2 mg gum when urge occurs (up to 15 pieces daily; 4 mg if >20 cigarettes/day) x 8-12 weeks

Paediatric dose

(Adolescents >=12 years: 2 mg gum under medical supervision)

Dose by age
12 years and over:2 mg gum, under medical supervision
Dose source

Nicorette 2 mg Gum SmPC sections 4.2 and 4.4 (eMC product 1089)

Why

Nicotine gum is a form of nicotine replacement therapy that supplies nicotine without the tar and combustion products of cigarettes, easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings during a quit attempt.

Cautions
  • Caution in recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or severe arrhythmia.
  • Use 'chew and park' technique (chew slowly until tingling, then park between cheek and gum).
  • Avoid acidic beverages (coffee, juice) 15 minutes before and during use.
  • Chew and rest, not chew continuously: chew until the taste is strong, then park the gum against the cheek until it fades, and repeat for about half an hour. Chewing it like ordinary gum swallows the nicotine and gives hiccups and heartburn instead of a blood level.
  • Fifteen pieces a day is the ceiling. Coming off the 4 mg, stepping down to the 2 mg helps.
  • It sticks to dentures and can damage them.
Egyptian brands
Egyptian brandManufacturerIndicative price
NICORETTE FREHMINT GUM 2 MG 30 PIECES? different route - not oral solidMCNEIL PRODUCTS LTD. > JOHNSON & JOHNSON161.00 EGP
2

BUPROPION

2nd line

Strength150 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

150 mg once daily for 6 days, then 150 mg twice daily (8 hours apart) x 7-9 weeks (target stop date set in week 2)

Paediatric dose

Not recommended under 18 years

Dose source

Zyban 150 mg prolonged release tablets SmPC sections 4.2-4.4 (eMC product 3827)

Why

Atypical antidepressant that reduces nicotine craving and withdrawal by modulating dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake in the brain; a non-nicotine pharmacotherapy option for smoking cessation.

Cautions
  • CONTRAINDICATED in patients with epilepsy, eating disorders, or CNS tumour.
  • Monitor blood pressure and mental health changes.
  • Set the quit date inside the first two weeks, ideally the second - the drug is started before the cigarettes stop, not after.
  • Seven to nine weeks in total. If nothing has changed by seven weeks, stop rather than continue.
  • Roughly one person in a thousand has a seizure at the full 300 mg. That is why the contraindications are absolute: any history of seizures at all, bulimia or anorexia now or ever, bipolar disorder, an MAOI within fourteen days, or a patient coming off alcohol or benzodiazepines abruptly.
  • Never more than 150 mg in one dose or 300 mg in a day, and at least 8 hours between them.
  • There is a risk of insomnia; avoid second dose near bedtime.
Egyptian brands
Egyptian brandManufacturerIndicative price
BUPROFUTAL SR 150 MG 30 TABSFUTURE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES152.00 EGP (5.07/unit)
VIXADEP 150 MG 30 S.R.TABS.MARCYRL PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES (MPI)221.00 EGP
WELLINTA 150 MG 30S.R.F.C.TABS.HOCHSTER PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES > ELIXIR PHARMA291.00 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.