Varenicline is an accepted first-line therapy for smoking cessation in adults, but evidence in adolescents is limited. In a trial of 175 adolescents and young adults (ages 16 to 25 years) who were interested in nicotine vaping cessation, more patients assigned to varenicline plus weekly counseling were abstinent at 9 to 12 weeks compared with counseling alone (51 versus 14 percent) [76]. These results are promising but differ from two prior trials of varenicline for cessation of combustible nicotine (smoking) in adolescents that did not demonstrate benefit. We suggest varenicline as second line therapy (with a nicotine patch) for adolescent patients who have not had success with nicotine replacement therapy alone and are close to 18 years of age. (See “Management of smoking and vaping cessation in adolescents”, section on ‘Varenicline’.)
Efficacy of varenicline for vaping cessation in teens and young adults (June 2025) on What’s new in family medicine via UpToDate.
Family Medicine Residency Site: Abbotsford-Mission 