Chest pain during use of bupropion as an aid in smoking cessation.
OBJECTIVE
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.
de Graaf
L
L
Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, Goudsbloemvallei 7, 5237 MH 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. l.degraaf@lareb.nl
Diemont
W L
WL
D000328:Adult; D016642:Bupropion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D016642:Bupropion