So you've decided to quit but you're kind of a tight-wad and don't want to spend too much money to do it. You've heard some stop smoking aids are cheaper than others, but nothing can compare with quittig cold turkey which is...well, 'free'. What to do?
Well, a recent study published in the journal Int J Clin Pract tells us which prescription stop smoking aid is more cost effective. They evaluated many articles and ran them through cost models. They make a point of noting that price and access will change how much you actually pay, but in general terms, there was a clear winner. So which was it, Varenicline or Bupropion?
Before we answer that question there are a couple things I'd like to point out.
The obvious one is that you shouldn't be a tight-wad when you are quitting smoking. I have a blog post in here that talks about the real cost of smoking. It's a pretty good read, if I do say so myself. Anyway, if a smoker is spending up to $10-15 per pack per day, then you can't be a tight-wad. Man, you are a free spender throwing around that kind of dough each day. Not to mention the cost of doctor's appointments and long term care for when you develop one of those nasty smoking related illnesses. But I digress. So don't let the cost be a stumbling block for you quitting.
Second, you shouldn't choose the stop smoking aid or quitting method based on cost. It needs to be tailored based on your nicotine addiction, smoking triggers, behavior, side-effects, etc. Certainly cost can be a consideration, but it shouldn't be the only consideration.
Okay then, which method won. Varenicline! As a reminder, the researchers did not look at the nicotine replacement therapies or the other non-first line therapies like hypnosis. They just looked at varenicline and bupropion. So there you go, you asked and now you know.
