Advances in pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence

Abstract

The discovery that bupropion is an effective treatment for tobacco dependence has triggered a rapid increase in development of potential new non-nicotine pharmacotherapies, including bromocriptine, glucose, GTS-21, reboxetine, rimonabant, selegeline and varenicline. Successful new products will need to have excellent side-effect profiles in addition to proven efficacy. New faster delivery nicotine replacement products have the promise of addressing a broader list of indications, including treatment of nicotine withdrawal during temporary abstinence and long-term nicotine maintenance. Nicotine vaccines will need to demonstrate efficacy and also improve certain consumer acceptability characteristics (e.g., frequency of injections required) before they can become widely used and successful therapies. The best hope of improved treatment comes from combining existing and new pharmacotherapies with effective behavioural therapy.