Smoking Cessation (class)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Smoking Cessation

What it is

Stop-smoking medicines help people quit by easing withdrawal and craving. The main ones are nicotine replacement (patches, gum, lozenges, sprays), varenicline, which partly activates nicotinic receptors, bupropion, and in some countries cytisine. Combined with support, they roughly double the chance of quitting. This page collects studies on stop-smoking medicines as a group.

How genes come into it

Studies of the group looked at the nicotinic receptor gene cluster CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4, linked to heavier smoking, and at CYP2A6, which sets how fast a person clears nicotine: in one large trial, fast nicotine clearers did better on varenicline than on patches. The findings are interesting but not yet used to guide treatment, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Smoking Cessation. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (7 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

CHRNA5 rs16969968: Level 3. Efficacy: Tobacco Use Disorder. 7.

CHRNA5 rs588765: Level 3. Efficacy: Tobacco Use Disorder. 2.

CHRNA3 rs1051730: Level 3. Efficacy: Tobacco Use Disorder. 2.

CHRNA3 rs1051730: Level 3. Dosage: Tobacco Use Disorder. 1.

Response (2 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

CYP2A6 rs4803381: Allele T is associated with increased response to bupropion and Drugs used in nicotine dependence in people with Tobacco Use Disorder as compared to allele C.

ANKK1 rs1800497: Allele A is not associated with response to Drugs used in nicotine dependence in people with Tobacco Use Disorder.

Other findings (4 findings)

Studies that do not fall into the groups above.

CHRNA3, CHRNA5 rs16969968: Allele G is associated with increased response to Drugs used in nicotine dependence in people with Tobacco Use Disorder.

CHRNA3, CHRNA5 rs16969968: Allele A is associated with increased response to Drugs used in nicotine dependence in people with Tobacco Use Disorder.

CHRNA5 rs680244: Allele C is associated with increased response to Drugs used in nicotine dependence in people with Tobacco Use Disorder.

CHRNA5 rs680244: Allele T is associated with increased response to Drugs used in nicotine dependence in people with Tobacco Use Disorder.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Chantix (Smoking Cessation Agents)

Abilify (Antipsychotics)

Adderall (Stimulants)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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