Obviousness-Based Medicine

Smokin!

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom has recommended Champix (varenicline) for use on the National Health Service for adult smokers who have expressed a desire to quit. This gives smokers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland access to another important treatment option to help them quit smoking.

In its Final Appraisal Determination, NICE concluded that varenicline was “superior to NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] and bupropion in achieving continuous abstinence” and that its use in smoking cessation was “likely to be a cost-effective use of National Health Service resources.”

“This guidance means that smokers who are serious about stopping have another choice from a good range of clinically proven treatments, said Professor Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology at University College London. “Smokers who combine treatments with the right support – for instance from smoking cessation services - could significantly increase their odds of successfully quitting for life.”