PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Alex M. Cressman AU - Anna Pupco AU - Eunji Kim AU - Gideon Koren AU - Pina Bozzo TI - Smoking cessation therapy during pregnancy DP - 2012 May 01 TA - Canadian Family Physician PG - 525--527 VI - 58 IP - 5 4099 - http://www.cfp.ca/content/58/5/525.short 4100 - http://www.cfp.ca/content/58/5/525.full SO - Can Fam Physician2012 May 01; 58 AB - Question Despite being highly motivated to quit, many of my patients struggle with smoking cessation during pregnancy. Can you comment on the current treatment options and discuss their safety and efficacy during pregnancy? Answer Given the considerable and well-documented adverse effects of antenatal smoking on mother and fetus, pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation should be considered. Available medications include nicotine replacement therapy, sustained-release bupropion, and varenicline. Nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion do not appear to increase the risk of major malformations; however, there is currently limited evidence on the use of varenicline during pregnancy. Given that these agents are only marginally successful in smoking cessation, their use should always be accompanied by behavioural counseling and education to maximize quit rates.