New Cochrane Review Finds Nicotine Vapes Help More Smokers Quit Than Traditional Nicotine Replacement Therapy
For years, smokers looking to quit have faced an overwhelming number of options. Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, prescription medications, counselling programs, and more recently, nicotine vaping products have all been promoted as tools to help people stop smoking.
Now, one of the world’s most respected independent health research organisations has released updated evidence that may help clarify the discussion.
A 2025 review from the Cochrane Library found that nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes can help more adults successfully quit smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) such as patches and gum.
What Is the Cochrane Review?
The Cochrane Review is considered one of the highest standards in evidence-based healthcare. Rather than conducting a single study, researchers analyse and combine data from many clinical trials to provide a comprehensive picture of the available evidence.
The latest review included:
| Measure | Findings |
|---|---|
| Studies Included | 104 |
| Participants | 30,366 adults |
| Search Date | Up to March 2025 |
| Focus | Smoking cessation and safety |
This makes it one of the largest reviews ever conducted on vaping and smoking cessation.
What Did Researchers Find?
The review found high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes help more people quit smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapies.
Smoking Cessation Results
| Comparison | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Nicotine vapes vs nicotine patches/gum | Higher quit rates with nicotine vapes |
| Nicotine vapes vs nicotine-free vapes | Higher quit rates with nicotine vapes |
| Nicotine vapes vs behavioural support/no support | Likely higher quit rates with nicotine vapes |
Researchers estimated that for every 100 smokers trying to quit, nicotine vaping products could help approximately four additional people successfully stop smoking compared with traditional nicotine replacement therapies.
While that number may seem small, at a population level, it represents a significant increase in successful smoking cessation.
What About Safety?
One of the most common questions surrounding vaping is whether it introduces new health risks.
The review found no clear evidence that nicotine vaping products caused more serious adverse events than traditional nicotine replacement therapies. However, researchers noted that long-term evidence is still developing and continued monitoring remains important.
Commonly Reported Side Effects
| Side Effect | Notes |
|---|---|
| Throat irritation | Usually mild and temporary |
| Cough | Often decreases over time |
| Headache | Reported in some users |
| Nausea | Similar to effects seen with nicotine replacement products |
Most reported side effects were considered non-serious and tended to lessen with continued use.
Why Does This Matter?
Cigarette smoking remains one of the leading preventable causes of disease and death worldwide.
While the safest option is to avoid both smoking and nicotine use altogether, many adults struggle to quit smoking despite multiple attempts.
The Cochrane review suggests that nicotine vaping products may provide another effective option for adult smokers who have been unable to quit using conventional methods.
Importantly, the review focuses on helping existing smokers stop smoking. It does not suggest that non-smokers should start vaping, nor does it address youth uptake of vaping products.
The Bottom Line
According to the latest Cochrane evidence, nicotine-containing vaping products appear to be more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies at helping adults quit smoking.
The review also found no evidence of increased short- to medium-term serious harm compared with nicotine replacement therapies, although researchers continue to study long-term health outcomes.
For adult smokers looking for alternatives to cigarettes, the findings add to a growing body of evidence that nicotine vaping products can play a role in smoking cessation when used as part of a quit-smoking strategy.
Source
Lindson N, Livingstone-Banks J, Butler AR, McRobbie H, Bullen C, Hajek P, Wu AD, Begh R, Theodoulou A, Notley C, Rigotti NA, Turner T, Fanshawe T, Hartmann-Boyce J. Electronic Cigarettes for Smoking Cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2025.
Written and published by NicQuit.com.au — helping Australians breathe easier, live longer, and quit for good.