Update on medicines for smoking cessation

Persistent cigarette smokers usually have a nicotine addiction. This addiction has a chronic relapsing and sometimes remitting course and may persist lifelong.

Remission can be facilitated by the use of medication as part of a comprehensive management strategy tailored to the individual patient.

Nicotine replacement therapy is a first-line drug treatment. It is available in many formulations.

Varenicline is also a first-line drug treatment. It should be started before the patient stops smoking.

Bupropion is a second-line therapy. It may be associated with an increased risk of seizures and drug interactions.

While there is some evidence that electronic cigarettes might facilitate smoking cessation, quit rates are not yet comparable with those of the drugs approved on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Most tobacco smokers are addicted to nicotine. This addiction is a chronic disease state that is prone to relapses and remissions.¹ However nicotine addiction is declining in Australia, indicating that for some smokers remission after quitting may be long lasting. In 2001, 22.4% of the population aged 18 or over smoked, while by 2011–12 this rate had reduced to 16.4%.²

Following the decline in smoking prevalence in Australia, the profile of smokers has changed. A higher proportion now have more severe forms of nicotine addiction and comorbidity.^3-5 Nonetheless, most smokers eventually consider quitting, so few smokers are completely resistant to interventions to stop smoking. Commonly, people who recover from addiction appear to learn how to manage lapses and relapses, largely from their experience of multiple cycles of lapse (‘slip up’) and relapse (reinstatement of dependence). A number of excellent recent reviews on smoking cessation are available.^4-11

There is a lot of evidence regarding the efficacy of the drugs used in smoking cessation.^6-10 There is also emerging evidence about tailoring interventions to individuals in a personalised medicine approach.^5,11,12 These drugs are most effective when used in conjunction with behavioural therapies and support (Box 1). Cognitive and behavioural interventions, such as motivational interviewing and relapse prevention, are an essential adjunct to the efficacy of these drugs.^6-10 Smoking cessation is more likely to succeed when the smoker is motivated to quit, hence skill in motivational interviewing is additionally helpful for the practitioner. Recent evidence suggests some smoking cessation programs that also provide financial incentives for participants can be highly effective.¹³

It is essential that both doctor and patient persevere in managing nicotine addiction regardless of apparently entrenched negative beliefs or the number of previous attempts to quit. The management focus is to help prevent relapse and to continue being supportive when relapse occurs, providing encouragement for further attempts to quit in the future. Common risks for lapse or relapse include stressful circumstances, consuming alcohol and being with friends or family who smoke.

Box 1 Resources to support smoking cessation

QUIT-line
Counselling for consumers
www.quitnow.gov.au or phone 13 7848 (13 QUIT)

Mental health information
www.quitnow.gov.au – Go to the tab ‘I want info on’ and then ‘Mental illness and quitting’ (health professionals and patient information sheets).

www.sane.org – Go to the tab ‘Information’ select ‘Factsheets and podcasts’, under ‘Mind & body’ select ‘Smoking and mental illness’ (patient information sheet).

Pregnancy-related information
www.quitnow.gov.au/internet/quitnow/publishing.nsf/Content/pregnancy-and-quitting

http://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/health-promotion/closing-the-gap/smokefree
This site provides access to the ‘Quit for New Life’ program which especially targets Aboriginal mothers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander information
http://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/health-promotion/closing-the-gap/smokefree

www.qld.gov.au/atsi/health-staying-active/quit-smoking

NPS MedicineWise
Stop smoking – what works for your patients?
www.nps.org.au/publications/health-professional/health-news-evidence/2013/ stop-smoking-what-works

Australian Association of Smoking Cessation Professionals
http://aascp.org.au

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Supporting smoking cessation: a guide for health professionals
www.racgp.org.au/guidelines/smoking-cessation

Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Smoking cessation training module
https://elearning.racp.edu.au – Go to the tab ‘Addiction medicine’.

Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group
http://tobacco.cochrane.org/evidence

National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre
www.ncpic.org.au

Smokers who are not physiologically dependent on nicotine and are ready to quit are more likely to respond to behavioural interventions than dependent patients. Most current smokers are likely to be significantly nicotine dependent (Box 2), so it is appropriate to consider drug therapy to help them quit.

There are three approved drug therapies in Australia – varenicline, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy. They are available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), as long as they are part of a comprehensive treatment plan for smoking cessation. A Cochrane review has compared the efficacy of drugs that support quitting for six months or longer (Table).⁶ Nortriptyline and clonidine are sometimes prescribed ‘off-label’ for smoking cessation, however their efficacy is not as good as that of the approved drugs.⁶

Box 2 Features of severe nicotine dependence

Smoking in first five minutes after waking

Smoking despite illness, such as respiratory tract infections

Waking during the night to smoke

Smoking to reduce withdrawal symptoms

Smoking more than a packet of cigarettes a day

The more features present, the more severe the dependence

Table Comparative efficacy of drugs for smoking cessation⁶

NRT nicotine replacement therapy * odds ratio (with 95% confidence interval) calculated on quit rates for six months or longer

For most patients, nicotine replacement therapy should still be considered first line because of its established evidence base.¹⁴ Multiple formulations are available – gum, lozenges, oral strips, spray, inhaler, patches (16- or 24-hour release) and sublingual tablets. All have comparable efficacy. These different formulations allow for better tailoring to individual requirements including the use of combinations if required. For example, a patient may be prescribed a transdermal nicotine patch and additionally use a nicotine inhaler to supplement blood nicotine concentrations at times of particular craving or risk of relapse. Evidence suggests that combinations of nicotine replacement therapy may be more effective than using a single formulation.⁶

Transdermal patches are a common form of nicotine replacement therapy. It is recommended to start with a higher dose formulation (e.g. 21 mg) and to consider the 16-hour patch for patients who do not usually smoke during the night, to avoid sleep disturbance. Both patch durations are equally efficacious. It is important to provide an adequate dose of nicotine to reduce withdrawal symptoms and risk of relapse, then continue treatment for the appropriate duration (e.g. 12 weeks). Generally, heavier smokers (e.g. more than a packet/day) will require bigger replacement doses of nicotine. Sometimes, two transdermal patches may be required. Advise heavily dependent patients about self-titration of the nicotine dose using additional short-acting formulations like gum, spray or inhaler.

Discontinuation of nicotine replacement therapy may be abrupt, but if a patient prefers, they can reduce the dose by self-titration using short-acting forms of nicotine replacement therapy. Some patients may choose to keep a supply of lozenges, gum, or an inhaler to use as required for relapse prevention. Persistent dependence on nicotine via nicotine replacement therapy is rare but may occur. While this form of nicotine dependence is less harmful than cigarette smoking, when encouragement to reduce the dose fails, specialist referral should be considered.

Certain behavioural aspects of smoking may be more amenable to particular formulations of nicotine replacement therapy. For example, ritual cigarette handling may be substituted by handling a nicotine inhaler. Chewing gum or sucking on a lozenge may reduce anxiety or thoughts about smoking.

Nicotine replacement therapy is generally recommended to start when the patient stops smoking. This is to avoid higher than usual nicotine concentrations causing adverse effects, the earliest being nausea.

All forms of nicotine replacement therapy are available over the counter from pharmacies. This means that patients can access it repeatedly. Used nicotine patches should be discarded with care to avoid accidental exposure in children or other inappropriate use. Pharmacists can provide information about safe storage and disposal of medicines.

Varenicline has comparable efficacy with combination nicotine replacement therapy but has superior efficacy to nicotine replacement monotherapy (Table). It is therefore recommended as an equal first-line drug for smoking cessation.

Varenicline acts as a partial agonist at central nicotinic receptors, which are important in mediating the reinforcement associated with tobacco smoking.^5,6 During treatment, drug binding partially activates these receptors thereby reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings. If the patient lapses and smokes, varenicline reduces the access of nicotine to the receptors. By limiting nicotine binding, its rewarding effect is reduced.

It is recommended that varenicline is started a week or two before the patient stops smoking. This is because a continuous period of dosing is required before sufficient receptors are occupied and optimal drug efficacy is achieved. The dose is gradually increased and treatment continues for 12 weeks. If the patient is not initially successful in quitting within a six-month period, the PBS subsidises an additional 12 weeks supply of varenicline (up to two authority prescriptions per 12 months).¹⁵ Varenicline can be combined safely with nicotine replacement therapy and this may further improve abstinence rates at six months.¹⁶

Varenicline is principally eliminated by the kidney so reduced doses (or alternative treatments) are recommended for patients with renal impairment. When varenicline was first marketed there were concerns about an apparent increased incidence of neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular adverse effects. After several years of experience with varenicline, these concerns do not appear to have been substantiated.^6,17,18 Common adverse effects include nausea, headache and insomnia.

Bupropion was originally developed as an antidepressant, but its mode of action in smoking cessation is uncertain. It has equivalent efficacy to nicotine replacement monotherapy but less efficacy than varenicline and is therefore considered a second-line option.

Bupropion is considered when other drugs have been ineffective or contraindicated. Although bupropion can be used in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy, this combination appears not to offer improved efficacy.¹⁹

Like varenicline, bupropion is started before the patient stops smoking to allow sufficient time for the drug to mediate its therapeutic effects. A common strategy is for the patient to set a quit date for the second week of therapy.

Bupropion is contraindicated in patients with a history of seizures. Common adverse effects include difficulty concentrating, insomnia and nightmares. Bupropion undergoes significant hepatic cytochrome P450 2B6 metabolism to an active metabolite (hydroxybupropion) which is later excreted renally. Dose reduction is necessary in patients with hepatic or renal disease. There are potential interactions with other drugs metabolised by this system including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and St John’s wort.²⁰

Among the more common reasons for a poor response to drug treatment are non-adherence, adverse effects, and inadequate dosing particularly with nicotine replacement therapy. Personalising treatment may prevent some of these problems. The choice of drug depends on patient factors and their environment.

Patient factors

Consider any individual preferences, past experiences or medical conditions. For example, nicotine gum usually does not suit patients with dentures, and in Sjogren’s syndrome nicotine lozenges or strips are less likely to be effective due to decreased saliva production. Aphthous ulceration is a recognised adverse consequence related to smoking cessation and not an adverse effect of drugs used to assist quitting.²¹

The patient might have a generalised dermatological condition that makes transdermal patches less appropriate. Other individual factors to consider include chronic renal or hepatic disease, diabetes (glycaemic control may be unstable during smoking cessation), unstable angina, pregnancy and lactation.

Many smokers have comorbid mental health problems such as anxiety or mood disorder. Identifying these problems can help in determining the need for specific treatments to further facilitate the smoking cessation attempt – for example, engaging the patient in a mental health treatment plan involving a psychologist who can provide assistance with the mental health problem and support smoking cessation. Quitting smoking has been shown to improve the mental health of patients with psychiatric comorbidity and does not exacerbate their symptoms.^22-27

Patients with significant depressive symptoms are known to be less likely to respond to smoking cessation interventions. Some may need antidepressant treatment before they will engage in smoking cessation. Although bupropion has antidepressant activity, it has no more efficacy in depressed smokers than other drugs for smoking cessation.²⁴ Encouragingly, evidence supports smoking cessation interventions even in groups previously thought to be resistant, such as patients with chronic psychotic illness, the homeless, the socially disadvantaged and people with other forms of substance abuse.^28,29 Caution is needed in patients taking antipsychotic drugs as smoking cessation can lead to rising blood concentrations of drugs such as clozapine and olanzapine.³⁰

Women planning pregnancy should be encouraged to give up smoking. Preconception counselling and antenatal visits are opportunities to reinforce this advice. Patient education and behavioural interventions are recommended as first-line interventions. There are special smoking cessation resources for pregnant women (Box 1). If drugs are considered, neither varenicline nor bupropion is recommended. Although evidence supporting the use of nicotine replacement therapy in pregnancy is limited, it is likely to be much safer than smoking.^31-33

Adolescent smokers are less likely to be severely nicotine dependent. A small group may be dependent and there is some evidence supporting the use of nicotine replacement therapy, notably patches and gum.³⁴

Environment

Assessing the patient’s environment involves identifying the factors that positively or negatively affect adherence to the smoking cessation plan.³⁵ For example, the patient may have a partner who continues to smoke at home, or friends or a workplace that exposes them to risks for lapse or relapse. Patients should be helped to develop strategies to better negotiate these situations. Other supports include the QUIT-line providing telephone follow-up, text messaging to enhance adherence^35,36 and engaging mindfulness therapy.³⁷ Some patients may need specialist referral, for example contacting the Australian Association of Smoking Cessation Professionals or an addiction medicine specialist.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are typically hand-held, battery-operated devices that deliver vaporised liquid (‘e-juice’) containing flavourings and sometimes nicotine. The vapour is inhaled by the user in a fashion similar to smoking but without inhaling tobacco tar and carbon monoxide. The process of inhaling these vapours is referred to as ‘vaping’. In Australia nicotine-delivering cartridges are not available over the counter and require individual importation licensing (for personal use only), a medical prescription and are subject to various state legislative sanctions. Some patients source nicotine e-juice over the internet from the USA, Canada and China.

Some recent evidence including a Cochrane review suggests these devices may help some people quit smoking.^38,39 However they have not been shown to be more effective than current smoking cessation drugs. Further, there are concerns about safety (e.g. constituents of the vapour may be toxic to the lung) and the marketing of e-cigarettes, especially towards young people and current non-smokers. Some advertising suggests to smokers that they use e-cigarettes during times when they are unable to smoke cigarettes rather than as an aid to smoking cessation.^40-43

Of concern is the evidence of increasing use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes by non-smoking adolescents and young adults.⁴⁴ Further, some evidence suggests that nicotine may function as a gateway drug to future drug addiction by enhancing the brain’s susceptibility to be rewarded by other addictive drugs.⁴⁵

Most cannabis smokers also smoke tobacco. There is evidence suggesting that tobacco increases cannabis dependence⁴⁶ and that cannabis use increases difficulty of tobacco cessation.⁴⁷ Assisting smokers to quit tobacco may also assist with cannabis cessation and vice versa. A recent Cochrane review on cannabis dependence found few good studies and insufficient evidence for most treatments trialled. However, they and others suggest a few drugs that might warrant further investigation.^48,49 The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre provides good resources and support for cannabis cessation (Box 1).

Current cigarette smokers are likely to be significantly nicotine dependent. To help them quit there are several options for drug therapy, and prescribers, like smokers themselves, need encouragement to persevere despite past unsuccessful attempts. These drugs have good efficacy particularly when used in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment plan. A focus on personalised interventions and relapse prevention is recommended. It is essential to provide support and there are many support services now available including specialist referral.

Conflict of interest: none declared