A Controlled Trial of Sustained-Release Bupropion, a Nicotine Patch, or Both for Smoking Cessation

TLDR

Nicotine‑replacement therapies and the antidepressant bupropion are established aids for smoking cessation. In a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial, 903 smokers received sustained‑release bupropion, a nicotine patch, both, or placebo over nine weeks of medication and eight weeks of patch therapy, with a target quit day of week 2.

Abstract

Use of nicotine-replacement therapies and the antidepressant bupropion helps people stop smoking. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of sustained-release bupropion (244 subjects), a nicotine patch (244 subjects), bupropion and a nicotine patch (245 subjects), and placebo (160 subjects) for smoking cessation. Smokers with clinical depression were excluded. Treatment consisted of nine weeks of bupropion (150 mg a day for the first three days, and then 150 mg twice daily) or placebo, as well as eight weeks of nicotine-patch therapy (21 mg per day during weeks 2 through 7, 14 mg per day during week 8, and 7 mg per day during week 9) or placebo. The target day for quitting smoking was usually day 8.