Prescribing Drugs for Smoking Cessation

Pharmacists can expand their scope of practice in the areas of prescribing, drug or vaccine administration, and ordering of screening and diagnostic testing by successfully completing the requisite Council-approved education, training, and application process.

Requirements

To prescribe a drug included in the category for smoking cessation, a pharmacist must:

  • view the Fundamentals of Prescribing for Manitoba Pharmacists presentation;
  • be a certified tobacco educator or have successfully completed one of the following programs in person or online within the last three years:
    • PACT (Level 1 and Level 2);
    • PharmAchieve Smoking Cessation CE Program; or
    • TEACH (Core course).
  • read the product monographs of the drugs that the pharmacist is prescribing, and review other resources when necessary or appropriate; and
  • successfully apply to the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba to prescribe a drug for smoking cessation.

The Fundamentals of Prescribing for Manitoba Pharmacists presentation is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMSYNV0pEXs

The presentation slides are available here.

Completed applications for Authorization to Prescribe a Drug Included in Schedule 3 to the Pharmaceutical Regulation for Smoking Cessation and supporting documents can be forwarded to the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba by email to registration@cphm.ca (preferred method), fax to 204-237-3468, or mail to 200 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2H 1A7.

Drugs that can be Prescribed for Smoking Cessation

Drugs that can be prescribed under Schedule 3 for smoking cessation include:

  • nicotine sublingual/buccal;
  • nicotine chewing gum;
  • nicotine inhalation;
  • nicotine nasal;
  • nicotine transdermal; and
  • Varenicline.

Bupropion is not included in this category.

DPIN Pharmacist Prescriber Number

All licensed pharmacists are entered into DPIN as prescribers. Pharmacist prescriber numbers consist of the prefix ‘X’ followed by the pharmacist’s licence number. For example, ‘X12345.’ Pharmacists use this prescriber number when entering a prescription into DPIN.

Resources

A pharmacist hands a prescription over a counter to a patient.

Prescribing Drugs for Self-Limiting Conditions

Pharmacists can complete requisite Council-approved education, training, and application process to prescribe Drugs for Self-Limiting Conditions.

Learn more