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Pharmacological therapies in smoking cessation: an evidence-based update

  • Smoking Cessation (S. Veeraraghavan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Smoking cessation presents a daunting challenge for clinicians; tobacco use impacts every major organ system and is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Despite significant reductions in the rate of smoking over the past 50 years, tobacco use continues to burden the healthcare system. First-line therapies for smoking cessation include nicotine replacement, novel partial nicotinic agonists as well as antidepressant therapy. Herein, we review recent updates to the literature regarding nicotine replacement, bupropion, and varenicline. Re-emerging therapies such as cytisine are reviewed, as well as the novel concept of vaccination. Finally, the controversy surrounding electronic cigarettes and their debatable role in cessation therapy will be addressed as their popularity continues to grow.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Conflict of Interest

Drs Allam and Ochoa both state they have no conflicts to disclose.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article contains no studies with human or animal subjects performed by the author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 1365 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Joanne Shirine Allam & Christopher D. Ochoa

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  1. Joanne Shirine Allam
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  2. Christopher D. Ochoa
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Correspondence to Christopher D. Ochoa.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Smoking Cessation

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Allam, J.S., Ochoa, C.D. Pharmacological therapies in smoking cessation: an evidence-based update. Curr Pulmonol Rep 4, 173–178 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-015-0125-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13665-015-0125-5

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