Identification of the most effective pharmaceutical products for smoking cessation: A literature review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The major causes of excess mortality among smokers are diseases related to smoking, including cancer as well as respiratory and vascular diseases. People who stop smoking greatly reduce their risk of disease and early death, so effective smoking-cessation interventions are extremely important management strategies.

Aims: To undertake a major literature review to identify the most effective pharmaceutical products for smoking cessation and detail the latest research in smoking-cessation interventions.

Methods: The Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews databases were searched. The types of studies searched for were randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. All studies were included except those involving patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or infection by human immunodeficiency virus. Searched studies assessed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, combination therapy, bupropion, and antidepressants.

Results: The literature search focused on the three first-line treatments for smoking cessation: NRT, bupropion, and varenicline. Current research in non-first-line treatments (electronic cigarettes, cytisine, “heat-not-burn” tobacco products) as well as smoking-cessation strategies in high-risk individuals (pregnant women, individuals with mental-health or addiction issues) was also detailed.

Conclusions: Except for high-risk groups, use of NRT, bupropion, and varenicline can result in a higher prevalence of smoking cessation compared with placebos. Varenicline and combination NRT appear to be the most effective smoking-cessation strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• Smoking cessation
• treatment
• tobacco

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.