Can lobeline help people to quit smoking

Stead LF, Hughes JR

Published Online:

April 15, 2009

Lobeline is an alkaloid derived from the leaves of an Indian tobacco plant, and has been widely used in commercial smoking remedies. Its adverse effects include dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, and tablets and pastilles containing Lobeline may lead to throat irritation. The review found no adequate long-term trials which could provide evidence that Lobeline can help people stop smoking. Even short-term studies do not indicate a consistent effect on smoking behaviour.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Lobeline is a partial nicotine agonist, which has been used in a variety of commercially available preparations to help stop smoking.

Objectives:

The objective of this review was to assess the effects of lobeline on long term smoking cessation.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group trials register (most recent search January 2009).

Selection criteria:

Randomized trials comparing lobeline to placebo or an alternative therapeutic control, which reported smoking cessation with at least six months follow-up.

Data collection and analysis:

We extracted data in duplicate on the type of subjects, the dose and form of lobeline, the outcome measures, method of randomisation, and completeness of follow-up.

Main results:

We identified no trials meeting the full inclusion criteria including long term follow-up.

Authors' conclusions:

There is no evidence available from long term trials that lobeline can aid smoking cessation.

This record should be cited as:

Stead LF, Hughes JR. Lobeline for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 1997, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD000124. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000124

Assessed as up to date:

January 8, 2009

Find the research

Get full text at The Cochrane Library

Primary Review Group:

Tobacco Addiction Group

Health topics:

Lungs & airways > Smoking cessation > Pharmacological interventions

Tobacco, drugs, & alcohol dependence > Tobacco > Pharmacological interventions

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Can lobeline help people to quit smoking

More like this

Copyright © 2011 - The Cochrane Collaboration