What do systematic reviews say?

Reduction and pharmacotherapy vs reduction alone

Reduction and pharmacotherapy showed no clear difference in subgroup: bupropion only; smoking cessation (≥ 6 month compared with reduction alone (low certainty).

• Smoking reduction interventions for smoking cessation 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.27 [0.67, 2.4]
  1 study · 594 participants
  Low

Pharmacological interventions vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether pharmacological interventions changes bupropion vs placebo Smoking cessation compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Tobacco cessation interventions for young people 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.49 [0.55, 4.02]
  1 study · 207 participants
  Very low
• Tobacco cessation interventions for young people 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.05 [0.41, 2.69]
  1 study · 211 participants
  Very low

Pharmacological interventions vs placebo

• Tobacco cessation interventions for young people 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 207 participants
  Very low
• Tobacco cessation interventions for young people 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 211 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in cessation: Bupropion vs. placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions to reduce harm from continued tobacco use 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.27 [0.67, 2.4]
  1 study · 594 participants
  Low

Varenicline vs bupropion

Varenicline leads to higher smoking abstinence at longest compared with bupropion (high certainty).

• Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.36 [1.25, 1.49]
  9 studies · 7560 participants
  High

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 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 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