Are nicotine e-cigarettes more effective than patches and gum for quitting smoking?

Lens adapted to this topic: Skeptical interpretation of the evidence

Critics argue that apparent superiority over patches or gum should not be treated as settled proof that e-cigarettes are the best cessation treatment in every setting. They point to low or very low certainty in some comparisons, possible differences in adherence and product use, continued nicotine dependence, and insufficient evidence about long-term harms. Some respiratory-health commentators reject e-cigarettes as a cessation treatment altogether.

• A 2022 meta-analysis found higher six-month abstinence with e-cigarettes than NRT, but rated the evidence low certainty and found no clear advantage for some shorter-term outcomes.
• A respiratory-medicine critique argues that existing meta-analyses do not establish e-cigarettes as both effective and safe cessation treatments.
• Another medical commentary rejects e-cigarettes as a treatment for tobacco or nicotine cessation and challenges claims that their harms are minimal.
• Comparisons with single NRT products may understate the effectiveness of combination therapy, such as patches used with gum or lozenges.

Featured sourceHow effective are medications and e-cigarettes for quitting smoking, and what works best? | Cochranecochrane.org5 sourcesView sources