A new study has been published which compares which is better for quitting smoking – Champix (Varenicline) or Vaping (e-cigarettes).
I find this study extra interesting as I have tried both methods in my years of getting away from ciggies! I had some very bad side effects from Champix (also known as Chantix) but it did definitely stop me smoking. But I could not use it for long as the side effects became unbearable.
However this week I will be celebrating 5 years since I stopped smoking using vapes! And I am still vaping! I am now down to 6mg nicotine compared to the 20mg I initially quit on!
You can read the study here but I will just summarise the main points below.
Study Methods
458 adults participated who had “moderate to heavy dependence on nicotine” who were “motivated to quit smoking traditional cigarettes”.
The trial was conducted in Northern Finland and was a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
The participants were aged from 25 to 75 years old who smoked daily.
Recruitment for the trial was from August 1 2018 to February 20th 2020.
The trial included 52 weeks of follow up and the data analyses were conducted between September 1st 2022 and January 15th 2024.
There were 3 groups and participants were chosen at random. Each participant received either of the following…
- 18mg Nicotine containing e-cigs (vapes) with placebo tablets (152 participants)
- Varenicline (Champix) along with a nicotine free vape (153 participants)
- Nicotine free vape and placebo tablets (153 participants)
Various data was taken on smoking cessation behaviour. Also the participants were tested for their carbon monoxide levels to check if they had been smoking.
There were multiple participants who did not complete the full trial for various reasons.
Results
The reporting of abstinence from smoking from the various groups is shown below.
Week 26
In the Nicotine vape group 40.4% were not smoking at this point. In the Champix group the number was 43.8% and placebo group were 19.7%.
Week 52
There were both self reported figures and confirmed figures (where the participant had a carbon monoxide test).
Nicotine vape group – 29.3% self reported, 28% confirmed as not smoking. Champix group were 39.2% and 37.9%. In the placebo group these figures were 20.5% and 19.9%.
Conclusion
Therefore the Champix had a slightly higher rate of keeping people away from smoking over a year period. But in the 6 month period the results were pretty close between vaping and Champix.
It is also noted that the difference between self reported data and confirmed data was very low – meaning those self reporting were mainly accurate.
Plus the “placebo” group did well in quitting – they used placebo tables and a nicotine free vape – the quitting figures between the 26 and 52 week follow ups were pretty stable.
