Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations for the prevention and management of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure in pregnancy
Year of Publication2013
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Updated
Recommended against
Strong
The panel does not recommend use of bupropion or varenicline to support cessation of tobacco use in pregnancy
Notes and Remarks
- 1.The evidence search found no quality evidence on the use of pharmacotherapy with bupropion or varenicline for tobacco-use cessation in pregnancy.
- 2.There is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether or not pharmacotherapy (NRT, bupropion, varenicline) is effective when used in pregnancy for tobacco-use cessation.
- 3.There is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether or not pharmacotherapy (NRT, bupropion, varenicline) is safe when used in pregnancy for tobaccouse cessation.
- 4.Given the known considerable harms caused by tobacco smoking in pregnancy and the known benefits of using NRT from studies in the general population, it is acknowledged that various national guidelines have recommended use of NRT in pregnancy under medical supervision
- 5.Urgently needed research includes: studies of factors improving or impeding adherence to pharmacotherapeutic agents; a review of the effects (safety profiles, effectiveness) of use of NRT in pregnant women, particularly in the United Kingdom where a historical cohort exists for use of NRT in pregnancy; use of client preference trials (client’s preference of pharmacotherapy treatment versus no treatment); and surveillance of current use of pharmacotherapy in pregnancy (focused on determining whether women use pharmacotherapy when recommended or prescribed by health-care providers).