Drugs for smoking cessation

What you need to know:Consider prescribing nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, or bupropion to most patients starting an attempt to quit smoking.When prescribing stop smoking drugs, stress the importance of commitment to total abstinence from the quit day onwards; adding behavioural support increases the chances of success.Nicotine replacement therapy is safe and is more effective if a patch is combined with a short acting form.Do not prescribe varenicline or bupropion in pregnancy, and avoid bupropion in patients at higher risk of seizures.Monitor people taking varenicline or bupropion for adverse psychological reactions.