Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation - The experience of a smoking cessation center

Smoking is a major public health problem with medical, social, and financial implications. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data resulting from enrollment and completion of a smoking cessation program of a number of 399 subjects of both gender, who presented consecutively in 2009 to the Smoking Cessation Counseling Medical Office of the Iasi Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital. The treatment for smoking cessation was represented either by bupropion or varenicline, administered by the usual scheme. Smoking severity was quantified by pack - years, determining the carbon monoxide in the exhaled air, both at baseline and at the end of the treatment period, and by Fagerström test for nicotine dependence. In female patients, the severity of smoking was significantly lower (P = 0.000) but their male counterparts responded better to treatment. Also, varenicline seemed to have a stronger therapeutic effect then bupropion while their adverse effects were similar.