What do systematic reviews say?

Varenicline vs placebo or no medication

Varenicline probably leads to higher SAEs (varenicline vs placebo or no medication) compared with placebo or no medication (moderate certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.23 [1.01, 1.48]
  26 studies · 14356 participants
  Moderate

Varenicline vs placebo or no medication

Varenicline showed no clear difference in cardiac SAEs (varenicline vs placebo or no medication) compared with placebo or no medication (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.2 [0.79, 1.84]
  18 studies · 7151 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs placebo or no medication

Varenicline showed no clear difference in neuropsychiatric SAEs (varenicline vs placebo or no medication) compared with placebo or no medication (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.89 [0.61, 1.29]
  22 studies · 7846 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs bupropion

Varenicline showed no clear difference in SAEs compared with bupropion (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.89 [0.61, 1.31]
  5 studies · 5317 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs nicotine replacement therapy monotherapy

Varenicline may leads to lower SAEs compared with nicotine replacement therapy monotherapy (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.7 [0.5, 0.99]
  6 studies · 6535 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs combination nicotine replacement therapy

Varenicline showed no clear difference in SAEs compared with combination nicotine replacement therapy (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.15 [0.49, 9.46]
  4 studies · 1852 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs e‐cigarettes

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 54 participants
  GRADE not reported

Varenicline vs bupropion

Varenicline showed no clear difference in cardiac SAEs compared with bupropion (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 3.17 [0.33, 30.18]
  2 studies · 866 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs nicotine replacement therapy monotherapy

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 137 participants
  GRADE not reported

Varenicline vs combination nicotine replacement therapy

Varenicline showed no clear difference in cardiac SAEs compared with combination nicotine replacement therapy (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.32 [0.01, 7.88]
  2 studies · 819 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs e‐cigarettes

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 54 participants
  GRADE not reported

Varenicline vs bupropion

Varenicline showed no clear difference in neuropsychiatric SAEs compared with bupropion (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.05 [0.16, 7.04]
  2 studies · 866 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs nicotine replacement therapy monotherapy

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 137 participants
  GRADE not reported

Varenicline vs combination nicotine replacement therapy

Varenicline showed no clear difference in neuropsychiatric SAEs compared with combination nicotine replacement therapy (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.69 [0.23, 96.5]
  2 studies · 764 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs e‐cigarettes

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 54 participants
  GRADE not reported

Cytisine vs varenicline

Cytisine showed no clear difference in SAEs compared with varenicline (low certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.67 [0.44, 1.03]
  2 studies · 2017 participants
  Low

Cytisine vs varenicline

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Cytisine vs varenicline

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found