Chest pain during use of bupropion as an aid in smoking cessation

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the cause of chest pain during the use of bupropion as an aid to stop smoking. Methods: The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre received 22 reports of chest pain, associated with the use of bupropion as an aid to smoking cessation. Additional information about long-term follow up was collected to analyze whether these complaints herald manifest cardiac disease. Results: All but one patient recovered after withdrawal of bupropion. Seven patients were additionally investigated and in six of them, a cardiac cause could be excluded. During long-term follow-up, no coronary heart diseases were diagnosed. Conclusions: These reports indicate that chest pain seems to be associated with the use of bupropion, but its origin remains unclear.