Nonnicotine Pharmacotherapies

Given that not all smokers respond well to NRT, and because many smokers have comorbid symptoms that suggest that mechanisms independent of the 

Efficacy. A pivotal study by Hurt et al. (1997) established the efficacy and safety of bupropion SRfor treatment of nicotine dependence, which led to its approval for this indication by the FDA in 1998. This study was a 7-week, double-blind, placebo-controUed, multicenter trial of three doses of bupropion SR (100 mg/day, 150 mg/day, or 300 mg/day in twice daily dosing). Patients were 6l5 cigarette smokers who smoked at least 15 cigarettes/day. The medication was administered in combination with weekly individual cessation counseling. End-of-trial 7-day point prevalence cessation rates were 19.0% for placebo and 28.8%, 38.6%, and 44.2% for the 100 mg/day, 150 mg/day, and 300 mg/day bupropion doses, respectively. At 1-year follow-up, cessation rates were 12.4% for placebo and 19.6%, 22.9%, and 23.1% for the 100 mg/day, 

Use in smoking cessation in psychiatric or substance abuse populations. 

Side effects. The primary side effects reported with bupropion administration in cigarette smokers are headache, dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and activation. Although most of these adverse effects occur during the first week of treatment, insomnia can persist. Seizures are of exceedingly low occurrence ( 0.5%) at doses of 300 mg daily or less, but a prior history of seizures or a seizure disorder contraindicate its use. 

Findings from studies of several non-FDA-approved nonnicotine pharmacotherapies for nicotine dependence are summarized in the following sections. 

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