New Medicines to Help You Stop Smoking

Abstract

According to the U.S. Agency of Health Care Policy and Research in 2005, there are 46 million Americans who smoke or 21% of the U.S. population. As a result of solid evidence demonstrating the numerous detrimental effects of smoking and the rising national healthcare costs, research have focused on finding new ways to aid in smoking cessation. Varenicline was recently approved by the FDA in 2006 for smoking cessation and is covered by most insurance plans including Medicaid and Medicare. Therefore, patients and providers alike need a readily available tool to use in clinics to guide management and decision-making. This pamphlet is designed for patients who are motivated to quit smoking and want to learn more on different smoking aid therapies, especially about the differences between the two oral medications, Bupropion and Varenicline. The pamphlet also includes useful, reliable websites and the national quitline phone number for the patient who is seeking more counseling, detailed information on nicotine replacement therapies, and self-help strategies to quit smoking. (The nicotine replacement therapies are listed in order of risk of addictiveness with patches at least risk and nasal spray at most risk.