Cue restricted smoking increases quit rates with varenicline

Varenicline effectively helps smokers quit by reducing withdrawal symptoms and blocking the reward of smoking. However, most quitters return to smoking within one year. 'Cue Restricted Smoking' is a behavioral technique designed to increase quit rates by asking smokers attempting to quit to restrict smoking to the standing position, while alone, in an isolated area facing a wall, with the cigarette as the only stimulus.

Using retrospective clinic records we compared quit rates in 281 smokers (50% males) instructed in the cue restricted smoking cessation method during 2016-2018 to quit rates in 324 smokers (46% males) advised to completely stop smoking on the target quit date which we previously used during 2011-2014. All were prescribed varenicline for 12 weeks alone, with the addition of bupropion if needed after 4 weeks. Follow-up consisted of behavioral support at 4-6 visits during active drug treatment and telephone counselling at 24 and 52 weeks. The smoking cessation rate was confirmed with exhaled carbon monoxide at the clinic visit at 12 weeks and only by telephone at 52 weeks.

The mean age of smokers was 49 years in both groups and the number of cigarettes smoked daily was similar (18/day in the cue restricted vs 19/day in the target quit day group). The smoking cessation rate at 12 weeks was 75% in the cue restricted versus 45% in the target quit day group (relative risk, RR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.4-2.2, p<0.001). At 52 weeks the quit rate was 65% vs 34%, respectively (RR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.5-2.4, p<0.001).

Cue restricted smoking was associated with a substantially increased chance of quitting compared with standard advice during treatment with varenicline. These results should be further studied in a randomized controlled trial.