Almost two-thirds of people who give up smoking use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), according to research.
Of the 65% who used NRT, nearly half (47%) of these using it on its own were successful in giving up smoking.
The survey found that 23% received varenicline (Champix) only, while 1% received bupropion only and another 1% received both varenicline and NRT. Some 60% of those who used varenicline only managed to quit successfully, compared with 50% who used Bupropion only.
Just under half (49%) of those who stopped without receiving any pharmacotherapy successfully quit.
Figures from the NHS showed more people have quit smoking than ever before with the help of the service. Some 373,954 successfully gave up in 2009/10, an 11% rise on the 337,054 who gave up in 2008/09.
The NHS Information Centre figures relate to people in England who had successfully stopped when they were followed up after four weeks.
A separate report on previously published data showed around one in 20 hospital admissions (462,900) for over-35s were linked to smoking in 2008/09.
Copyright Press Association 2010
