Bupropion-SR for Smoking Cessation in Early Recovery from Alcohol Dependence: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study

Abstract

We conducted a double-blind pilot study involving 11 alcohol- and nicotine-dependent patients randomized to receive either bupropion or placebo. Four of six patients on bupropion and one of five patients on placebo were abstinent from smoking at the end of medication phase. Those in the bupropion group reported significantly less craving (p < .02) and less exposure to cigarette smoke over time (expired carbon monoxide; p < .01). There were no serious adverse events and no main effects of medication group on either per subject or total number of adverse events. All those who completed treatment remained abstinent from alcohol.

• bupropion
• smoking cessation
• alcohol dependence

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the psychiatry residents and addiction fellows at the University of Michigan Medical School who helped collect the data (in particular, Chandan Nayak, M.D.), and The University of Michigan Medical School Advisory Council on Clinical Research and the University of Michigan’s General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) Grant # MO1 RR00042 for their support.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.