Bupropion in Helping Adults Stop Smoking

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Currently smokes ≥ 15 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year
• Motivated to quit smoking within the next 3 months

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Willing to attend clinic visits
• Willing to refrain from nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use during study participation
• Able to speak and read English fluently
• Has a home telephone and plans to reside in Western New York for the next year
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Not planning a pregnancy
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• No history of chronic renal or hepatic disease
• No history of head trauma or seizure
• No history of a seizure disorder, brain tumor, or CNS tumor
• No history of or currently diagnosed bulimia or anorexia nervosa
• No history of psychotic disorder
• No diabetes requiring oral hypoglycemics or insulin
• No excessive use of alcohol or alcoholism
• No current addiction to opiates, cocaine, or stimulants
• No poorly controlled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] > 170 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > 110 mm Hg)
• No allergy to bupropion hydrochloride
• No other surgical or medical condition that may significantly alter absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of bupropion hydrochloride
• No history of noncompliance to medical regimens
• No other clinical contraindication
• No major depressive disorder

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitor
• No recent discontinuation of a benzodiazepine
• No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
• No other concurrent drugs containing bupropion hydrochloride (e.g., Wellbutrin or Zyban)
• No concurrent antipsychotics, antidepressants, theophylline, systemic steroids, over-the-counter stimulants or anorectics, or levodopa
• No concurrent active treatment for cancer (e.g., chemotherapy or radiotherapy)