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Evidence summaries

Clonidine for Smoking Cessation

Clonidine may be effective in promoting smoking cessation but prominent side-effects limit its usefulness. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 6 studies (1 of oral, 3 of transdermal clonidine) with a total of 776 subjects. There was a statistically significant effect of clonidine in one of these trials. The pooled risk ratio for success with clonidine versus placebo was 1.63 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.18; 6 studies). There was a high incidence of dose-dependent side-effects, particularly dry mouth and sedation.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals) and by limitations in study quality (inadequate or unclear allocation concealment and blinding).

    References

    • Gourlay SG, Stead LF, Benowitz NL. Clonidine for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(3):CD000058 [Last assessed as up-to-date: 15 June 2008]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords