Bupropion Helps Stop Smoking Habit in Schizophrenia Patients

"Bupropion sustained release (SR) contribute positively to efforts to stop cigarette smoking in schizophrenic patients," excerpts from a report contained in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. "Many patients with chronic psychotic symptoms whose condition is stable under the control of drugs and continue to receive care it can receive smoking cessation advice and, through the utilization of all modalities of intervention that is, they really can quit smoking," said Dr. Elaine Weiner from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Maryland, author of the report .

Dr. Weiner and colleagues investigated the efficacy and tolerability of bupropion SR through a randomized open-label study for 14 weeks involving 46 people with schizophrenia smokers (32 of whom completed the study), also through a meta-analysis of 4-parallel group study earlier with a placebo comparator. In a randomized open-label study, smoking cessation success rates higher in the bupropion group (4 / 22, 18%) than the placebo group (2 / 19, 11%). However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.67). Secondary parameters assessed in this study, including side effects, also did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups. Results on the contrary found in the meta-analysis. From meta-analysis involving 119 participants and 121 participants bupropion group placebo group, it was revealed that the tendency to stop smoking 2.7-fold greater in the bupropion group than the placebo group (p = 0.009). In addition, carbon monoxide levels measured at the end of expiration was lower in the bupropion group at week 5.

In conclusion, Dr. Weiner said that although bupropion SR is useful to help smoking cessation in patients with stable schizophrenia, a psychiatrist should take advantage of all the modalities currently available interventions (such as counseling, group / individual and nicotine replacement therapy) in order to cope with nicotine dependence that is ingrained in the people with schizophrenia. Once the patient managed to stop smoking, pharmacologic support should be continued for at least one year since the pathophysiology of schizophrenia itself, the high recurrence rate.