Table 1.

Efficacy of monotherapies for smoking cessation. Summary of Cochrane reviews' findings on the efficacy of medications for smoking cessation

Medication	Number of studies (subjects)	Relative risk (95% CI)
Varenicline (2 mg day−1) vs. placebo	15	2.27 (2.02, 2.55)
Varenicline (2 mg day−1) vs. bupropion	3	1.52 (1.22, 1.88)
Varenicline (2 mg day−1) vs. NRT	2	1.13 (0.94, 1.35)
NRT (any form) vs. control	NA	1.58 (1.50, 1.66)
Nicotine gum vs. control	53	1.43 (1.33, 1.53)
Nicotine patch vs. control	41	1.66 (1.53, 1.81)
Nicotine inhaler vs. control	4	1.90 (1.36, 2.67)
Oral tablet/lozenges vs. control	6	2.00 (1.63, 2.45)
Nicotine nasal spray vs. control	4	2.02 (1.49, 3.73)
Bupropion SR vs. placebo	36	1.69 (1.53, 1.85)
Nortriptyline vs. placebo	6 (975)	2.03 (1.48, 2.78)
Clonidine vs. placebo	6	1.63 (1.22, 2.18)

Adapted from Stead et al. [33], Hughes et al. 53, Cahill et al. [67], Gourlay et al. [93].