Does bupropion have advantages over other medical therapies in the cessation of smoking?

Abstract

The sustained-release (SR) form of bupropion is an effective treatment for smokers who are trying to give up. As it is a prescription drug, the use of bupropion SR has brought smoking cessation back to the physician's office. Another unique feature of the use of bupropion SR for smoking cessation is that it is started before the smoker quits. Few head-to-head trials have compared bupropion SR with other medical treatments. However, trials have been conducted in a wide range of patient and treatment settings. These include community volunteers, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease, relapsed smokers, individuals with a history of depression, women and the elderly. Beyond randomised clinical trials, the effectiveness of bupropion has been shown in clinical practice and managed-care settings. 2004 © Ashley Publications Ltd.