A Cochrane review of research studies found that e-cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine were most likely to help people quit smoking. For every 100 people, 10 to 19 are likely to quit using an e-cigarette; 12 to 16 using varenicline; and 10 to 18 using cytisine.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that varenicline and vaping helped adults in Finland quit smoking at about the same rates.
Another Cochrane review found that “people are more likely to stop smoking for at least six months using nicotine e-cigarettes than using nicotine replacement therapy (7 studies, 2544 people), or e-cigarettes without nicotine (6 studies, 1613 people). Nicotine e-cigarettes may help more people to stop smoking than no support or behavioral support only (9 studies, 5024 people). For every 100 people using nicotine e-cigarettes to stop smoking, 8 to 10 might successfully stop smoking, compared with only 6 of 100 people using nicotine-replacement therapy, 7 of 100 using e-cigarettes without nicotine, or 4 of 100 people having no support or behavioral support only.”
In its report, “Nicotine Without Smoke: Tobacco Harm Reduction,” the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom recommended promoting both quit-smoking medications and e-cigarettes as a way to help people avoid the harms caused by smoking combustible tobacco products. The FDA has not made such recommendations.
