Three Common Approaches to Smoking Cessation Are Roughly Equal in Efficacy

Quit rates at 26 weeks were about 25% for varenicline, nicotine patches, or the combination of nicotine patches and nicotine lozenges.

Several studies have shown superior effectiveness for varenicline (Chantix) or nicotine replacement combination therapy (nicotine patches plus nicotine lozenges) over nicotine replacement monotherapy, but the two superior approaches have not been compared directly. In this study, researchers randomized 1086 smokers (mean age, 48; mean daily cigarettes, 17; mean smoking duration, 29 years) to one of three open-label 12-week interventions:

Varenicline alone (starting at 0.5 mg daily and titrated to 1 mg twice daily)
21-mg nicotine patches, tapered to 7-mg patches by 8 weeks
Nicotine patches as above, plus five 2-mg or 4-mg lozenges daily (depending on smoking history)

All regimens were adjusted as needed for side effects, and all participants rec…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Three Common Approaches to Smoking Cessation Are Roughly Equal in Efficacy

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