Pharmacological options for encouraging smokers to quit

Abstract

This article discusses the evidence-based pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline and bupropion. Regimens should be tailored to fit the individual patient, bearing in mind the level of addiction, previous attempts to quit smoking, and personal circumstances and preferences. The article also presents approaches to behavioural change in smoking cessation. Prescribers should deliver individualised care, particularly when caring for patients in at-risk groups, such as those with poor mental health or women who are pregnant. Health professionals should also be aware of the increasing popularity of hookah (shisha pipe) smoking, which is just as dangerous as regular smoking, and e-cigarettes, which, although they may be a useful tool to quit smoking, should not be seen as long-term alternatives to standard cigarettes.