Varenicline may be a viable option in the future for vaping cessation

1. Varenicline, in addition to counseling, increased e-cigarette cessation at 12 and 24 weeks compared to counseling alone. 

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

There are currently no evidence-based recommendations to guide e-cigarette (EC) cessation. Given that EC use is increasing worldwide, the number of patients turning to clinicians for guidance on cessation is likely to increase. Researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of varenicline for EC cessation. 140 participants interested in EC cessation were randomized into two groups. One group received 1 mg varenicline twice per week for 12 weeks, in addition to counseling. The second group received a placebo treatment twice weekly for 12 weeks, in addition to counseling. Participants were followed for an additional 12 weeks after the end of treatment. The primary study endpoint was abstinence from weeks 4-12. They also assessed continued abstinence during the follow-up period. Continuous abstinence was significantly higher in the varenicline group compared to placebo at weeks 4-12 (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.25–5.68; P=0.011) and weeks 4-24 (O,R,2.52; 95% CI, 1.14–5.58; P=0.0224). This randomized control trial indicates that including varenicline as part of an EC cessation plan may improve abstinence. This study may be helpful to guide clinicians counseling patients on EC cessation. Limitations of the study include the small sample size and short follow-up period. Future research may assess whether varenicline is beneficial for long-term EC cessation. It also remains to be determined whether varenicline alone, without counseling, is beneficial for EC cessation. Nonetheless, study results may reflect a novel research field investigating viable evidence-based recommendations for e-cigarette smoking cessation. 

Click to read the study in BMC Medicine

Image: PD

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