Nicotine patch safe during pregnancy

Executive Summary

Long-term nicotine replacement therapy advocated for pregnant women otherwise unable to stop smoking by Paul Ogburn, MD, State University of New York at Stony Brook, et al. Researchers found 22 mg/24 hrs of transdermal nicotine therapy administered for eight weeks did not affect gestational age, birth weight or "fetal well-being" in cohort of 21 pregnant smokers. Study was presented at Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting in New Orleans Jan. 17 and published in December American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. A California judge ruled last March against requiring that nonprescription NRT products carry labeling stating they "can harm your baby" (1"The Tan Sheet" March 26, 2001, p. 21)...