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  • Cochrane reviews: pharmacological interventions

    Cochrane reviews: pharmacological interventions

    There have been a large number of Cochrane reviews of smoking cessation interventions.

    As these are an important resource for the smoking cessation field, we have collected all the reviews covering pharmacological interventions and uploaded them so they can be viewed on our site.

    To find out more about the Cochrane reviews that deal with pharmacological interventions, please click on the links below.


    Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation

    The aim of this review is to assess the effect of combining behavioural support and pharmacotherapies in helping people to stop smoking. The review also examines if treatment effects vary depending on the setting (community vs. healthcare settings).

    Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation

    Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta analysis

    The objective of this review was to compare how first-line and second-line pharmacotherapies compare with one another in terms of efficacy in supporting long term abstinence and risk of adverse events. The review covers nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), antidepressants (bupropion and nortriptyline), nicotine receptor partial agonists (varenicline and cytisine), anxiolytics, selective type 1 cannabinoid receptor antagonists (rimonabant), clonidine, lobeline, dianicline, mecamylamine, Nicobrevin, opioid antagonists, nicotine vaccines, and silver acetate.

    Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta‐analysis

    Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation

    The primary objective of this review is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nicotine receptor partial agonists, including varenicline and cytisine, for smoking cessation.

    Click on link below to access review.

    Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation

    Nicotine replacement therapy versus control for smoking cessation

    The aims of this review were: to determine the effect of NRT compared to placebo in aiding smoking cessation; to consider whether there is a difference in effect for the different forms of NRT; whether the effect is influenced by the dosage, form and timing of use of NRT; if combinations of NRT are more likely to lead to successful quitting than one type alone and whether NRT is more or less likely to lead to successful quitting compared to other pharmacotherapies.

    Nicotine replacement therapy versus control for smoking cessation

    Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation

    To summarise the evidence from Cochrane Reviews that assessed the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of using electronic cigarettes (ECs) to help people who smoke tobacco achieve long‐term smoking abstinence. This is a review update regularly as part of a living systematic review.

    Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation

    Different doses, durations and modes of delivery of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation

    The review reports on the effectiveness of different forms, deliveries and doses and durations of NRT for smoking cessation. Click on link below to access review.

    Different doses, durations and modes of delivery of nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation

    Antidepressants for smoking cessation

    The aim of this review is to assess the effect of antidepressant medications to aid long-term smoking cessation. Click on link below to access full review.

    Antidepressants for smoking cessation

    Pharmacological interventions for promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy

    To evaluate the efficacy and safety of quit smoking pharmacotherapies in pregnancy. Click below to access full review.

    Pharmacological interventions for promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy

    Interventions to increase adherence to medications for tobacco dependence

    The aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of interventions aiming to increase adherence to medications for smoking cessation on medication adherence and smoking abstinence.

    Interventions to increase adherence to medications for tobacco dependence