Cost-effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation

Cost-effectiveness analysis, even with its inherent methodological problems, consistently shows that when smoking cessation interventions are effective they are nvariably also cost-effective. This is largely due to their relative low cost and the big impact that stopping smoking has on health outcomes. This is also the case for pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Champix). There is evidence that varenicline may be more cost-effective than other pharmacotherapy. Evidence is less conclusive about the relative cost-effectiveness of NRT compared with bupropion. Combination therapy (several forms of NRT, or NRT and bupropion) is also cost-effective compared with brief advice or counselling alone. While it is likely that combination pharmacotherapy, as compared with monopharmacotherapy, is cost-effective it has not yet been directly evaluated. Findings from economic analyses from the UK and elsewhere confirm that smoking cessation interventions, including pharmacotherapy, are among the most cost-effective health care interventions available