Table 7.
Effectiveness and abstinence rates of medications relative to the nicotine patch (n=86 studies)
| Medication | Number of arms* | Estimated odds ratio (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|
| Nicotine patch (reference group) | 32 | 1.0 |
| Monotherapies | ||
| Varenicline (2 mg/day) | 5 | 1.6 (1.3, 2.0) |
| Nicotine nasal spray | 4 | 1.2 (0.9, 1.6) |
| High dose nicotine patch (>25 mg; standard or long-term) | 4 | 1.2 (0.9, 1.6) |
| Long-term nicotine gum (>14 weeks) | 6 | 1.2 (0.8, 1.7) |
| Varenicline (1 mg/day) | 3 | 1.1 (0.8, 1.6) |
| Nicotine Inhaler | 6 | 1.1 (0.8, 1.5) |
| Clonidine | 3 | 1.1 (0.6, 2.0) |
| bupropion SR | 26 | 1.0 (0.9, 1.2) |
| Long-term nicotine patch (>14 weeks) | 10 | 1.0 (0.9, 1.2) |
| Nortriptyline | 5 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.4) |
| Nicotine Gum | 15 | 0.8 (0.6, 1.0) |
| Combination therapies | ||
| Patch (long-term; >14 weeks) + NRT (gum or spray) | 3 | 1.9 (1.3, 2.7) |
| Patch + bupropion SR | 3 | 1.3 (1.0, 1.8) |
| Patch + nortriptyline | 2 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.4) |
| Patch + inhaler | 2 | 1.1 (0.7, 1.9) |
| Second-generation antidepressants & Patch | 3 | 1.0 (0.6, 1.7) |
| Medications not shown to be effective | ||
| Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) | 3 | 0.5 (0.4, 0.7) |
| Naltrexone | 2 | 0.3 (0.1, 0.6) |
*
The term “arms” refers to the separate treatment or control groups comprised by the analyzed studies.