A latest review of 267 studies involving 101,804 people has led to
the conclusion that licensed quit smoking medicines are indeed effective for triggering
off smoking cessation.
A group of researchers carried out the review to study the
success rates of quit smoking medicines in comparison to placebos. The
researchers considered a participant to be successful in smoking cessation if
he quit smoking for a period of six months or more.
However, as the review came to a close, the researchers
discovered that all medications were successful in improving quit smoking
chances for smokers. The participants taking varenicline (chantix) or a
nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) had twice or three times more chances of
quitting. Smokers opting for a
single NRT or administering bupropion, were 80% more likely to quit
smoking than those taking placebos.
The researchers found out that those smokers who
administered only varenicline had 50% more chances of successful smoking
cessation in comparison to patients taking any nicotine replacement therapy. Also, the results were the same when compared
to participants taking any combination of two nicotine replacement therapies.
Kate Cahill, the lead researcher, states that the review
offers powerful evidence to prove that the main therapies available for smoking
cessation, namely, varenicline(chantix), bupropion and nicotine-replacement
therapy can help people quit smoking successfully.
The review was published in the Cochrane Library.
Source:
healthland.time.com, Date: 31st May 2013
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