Effectiveness of treatments to aid smoking cessation
| Treatment | Comparison | Increase in those abstinent for 6 months# | Increase in permanent abstinence as a result of treatment¶ |
| Nicotine replacement therapy all forms 8–12 weeks | |||
| Without behavioural support | Placebo | 5 | 2.5 |
| With behavioural support | Placebo with behavioural support | 10 | 5 |
| Drug with behavioural support | |||
| Bupropion 300 mg b.i.d 8 weeks | Placebo with behavioural support | 10 | 5 |
| Nortriptyline 1.5 mg b.i.d. 8 weeks | Placebo with behavioural support | 10 | 5 |
| Varenicline 1.5mg b.i.d. 12 weeks | Placebo with behavioural support | 15 | 7.5 |
| Behavioural support 4–8 weeks | |||
| Face-to-face from a specialist | Brief advice or written materials | 5 | 2.5 |
| Telephone-based | Brief advice or written materials | 5 | 2.5 |
| Combination of behavioural support and medication | Quitting without help | 10–20 | 5–10 |
Data are presented as %. #: percentage of all smokers treated; thus if the placebo rate is 5% and the active treatment rate is 10% the increase is 5%. Figures are based on percentage differences in relevant tables from the Cochrane reviews [20–25] rounded to the nearest 5%. ¶: 50% of the effect size at 6 months.