Staying Healthy

Quit smoking with electronic cigarettes?

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I have tried to quit smoking many times without success. Are electronic cigarettes a good way to help break the habit?

Most research of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool are not rigorous placebo-controlled studies, and the results may be biased by including people motivated to quit with e-cigarettes. In some observational studies, e-cigarette users appear to reduce their use of traditional cigarettes and to have higher quit rates (although long-term success is often low). These studies also don't compare e-cigarettes with the numerous FDA-approved choices for smoking cessation, such as nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gums, and lozenges), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), and varenicline (Chantix). These options have been shown to double the chance of success in quitting smoking compared with not using any aid at all.

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