Effectiveness of Pharmacological Interventions in Smoking Cessation

DRUG	Effectiveness
NRT and bupropion	·         helped about 80% more people to quit than placebo ·         (for every 10 people who quit with placebo about 18 could be expected to quit with NRT or with bupropion)
Varenicline	·         doubled the chances of quitting compared with placebo, ·         (for every 10 who quit with placebo about 28 could be expected to quit with varenicline)
Varenicline vs NRT	·         Varenicline helped about 50% more people to quit than nicotine patch and 'other' NRT (tablets, sprays, lozenges and inhalers), and about 70% more people than nicotine gum
Varenicline vs combination of NRT	·         was as effective as using varenicline, and helped more people to quit than single types of NRT. ·         There was little to choose between different types of NRT, apart from 'other' NRT, which helped slightly more people than nicotine gum
NRT combined with nortriptyline or with bupropion	·         not more effective than NRT alone
cytisine and nortriptyline	·         improved the chances of quitting, with minimal risk of harms
	Adverse reaction
Bupropion	·         carries a known risk of seizures (about 1 per 1000 users) ·         did not find increased risks of neuropsychiatric or heart and circulatory problems
Varenicline	·         still under investigation; we found no evidence from the trials that it is linked to an increase in neuropsychiatric problems, or with increased heart and circulatory problems
Clonidine	·         helped people to quit, but caused side effects

Reference:
Cahill K, Stevens S, Perera R, Lancaster T. Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 5. Art