Cytisinicline for vaping cessation

Cytisinicline is a partial agonist at α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that mediate nicotine dependence, has shown efficacy for cigarette smoking cessation (1):

• cytisinicline, historically known as cytisine, is a naturally occurring plant-based alkaloid that has been used as an over-the-counter smoking cessation product in Central and Eastern Europe for decades
• cytisinicline, like varenicline, binds selectively to the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtype that mediates nicotine dependence
  • cystisinicline acts as a partial agonist to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms while also blocking the reinforcement generated by nicotine when smoking cigarettes

A review notes (2):

• a small, short-term, placebo-controlled trial evaluated whether cytisinicline (cytisine) plus behavioural support was more effective than behavioural support alone for vaping cessation.
• a 12-week course of cytisinicline resulted in more people achieving short-term continuous abstinence from e-cigarettes than placebo (31.8% vs 15.1%)

NICE state with respect to cytisinicline and smoking cessation (3):

• do not offer cytisinicline, varenicline or bupropion to people under 18
• do not offer cytisinicline to people aged 66 and over
• do not offer cytisinicline during pregnancy or breastfeeding
• when using cytisinicline in smoking cessation, it is more likely to result in them successfully stopping smoking when combined with behavioural support
• when using cytisinicline in smoking cessation, agree a quit date set within the first 5 days of treatment and reassess the person shortly before the prescription ends

Reference:

1. Rigotti NA, Benowitz NL, Prochaska JJ, Cain DF, Ball J, Clarke A, Blumenstein BA, Jacobs C. Cytisinicline for Vaping Cessation in Adults Using Nicotine E-Cigarettes: The ORCA-V1 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2024 Aug 1;184(8):922-930.
2. Cytisinicline for vaping cessation. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin Published Online First: 30 January 2025.
3. NICE (February 2025). Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence