Bupropion Sustained Release and Smoking Cessation

The identification of nicotine dependence as a psychiatric disorder and increased knowledge ofnicotine’s neuropharmacologic effects have stimulated researchers to search for new pharmacologicinterventions for smoking cessation. After reviewing the efficacy and safety of bupropion sustainedrelease (SR) as an agent for treating smoking cessation, the Food and Drug Administration recentlyapproved the use of bupropion SR for this indication. This paper reviews nicotine’s pharmacologiceffects and the factors contributing to the development of nicotine dependence, the general principlesand strategies for treating nicotine dependence, and the evidence for the efficacy of bupropion SR as atreatment for smoking cessation. The release of bupropion SR as a treatment for smoking cessationmay provide clinicians with additional opportunities to address smoking cessation with their patients.