Journal Article

Placebo-Controlled Trial of Cytisine for Smoking Cessation

Zatonski, Witold, Pazik, Joanna, West, Robert, Cedzynska, Magdalena, Stapleton, John, Lewandowska, Dorota, Aveyard, Paul

2011

Overview

Cytisine is a low-cost medication that is potentially beneficial in smoking cessation. In this placebo-controlled trial, 12-month abstinence rates were 8.4% among participants randomly assigned to 4 weeks of cytisine and 2.4% among participants assigned to placebo. Tobacco smoking contributes to some 5 million premature deaths each year worldwide. 1 It is highly addictive, with more than 95% of unaided attempts at cessation failing to last 6 months. 2 Every year that a smoker delays quitting beyond the mid-30s, the person loses 3 months of life expectancy. 3 The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control identifies evidence-based approaches to promote smoking cessation, which include mass-media campaigns, tax increases on tobacco, and help for smokers wanting to stop. 4 Success in quitting is increased by behavioral support and a range of pharmacotherapies. 5 – 8 Some pharmacotherapies have been shown to be . . .

• Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
• Subject: Addictive behaviors / Adult / Adult and adolescent clinical studies / Biological and medical sciences / Cancer therapies / Cigarettes / Cystine - administration & dosage / Cystine - adverse effects / Cystine - therapeutic use / Double-Blind Method / Drug addiction / Drug therapy / Epidemiology / Female / Gastrointestinal Diseases - chemically induced / General aspects / Humans / Male / Medical personnel / Medical research / Medical sciences / Middle Aged / Nicotine / Placebos / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Public health / Smoking cessation / Smoking Cessation - methods / Tobacco / Tobacco smoking / Tobacco, tobacco smoking / Toxicology / Treatment Outcome / University colleges