title: Effects of sustained-release bupropion among persons interested in reducing but not quitting smoking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether sustained-release bupropion promotes smoking reduction leading to smoking cessation among persons who wish to reduce their amount of smoking, but who are unwilling to quit or who perceive themselves as being unable to quit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current smokers were assigned randomly to receive either sustained-release bupropion (150 mg twice daily) or matching placebo. During an initial 6-month smoking reduction phase, those who were willing to quit entered a 7-week cessation phase, during which study medication was continued.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four-week continuous abstinence rates were 14% (41/295) in the bupropion group and 8% (25/299) in the placebo group (P = 0.02) during treatment. However, this benefit did not continue after treatment was stopped; subsequent continuous abstinence rates were 7% (20/295) in the bupropion group and 5% (16/299) in the placebo group (P = 0.50). Similar proportions of subjects entered the cessation phase in both treatment groups (38% [n = 113] of those in the bupropion group and 34% [n = 101] of those in the placebo group), although the time until a cessation attempt was shorter for those taking bupropion (median, 64 days vs. 118 days, P = 0.008). The extent of smoking reduction (measured by urinary cotinine concentrations) among the 327 subjects who did not enter the cessation phase was significantly greater (P <0.05) in those treated with bupropion during the reduction treatment phase, but not during the month 12 follow-up visit (P = 0.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sustained-release bupropion, when used in smokers initially not willing to make a cessation attempt, can help sustain smoking reduction while subjects are on active medication, reduce the time until the next cessation attempt, and increase short-term abstinence rates. However, these benefits were modest and not sustained after bupropion was discontinued.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry (DKH, MK), University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA. hatsu001@umn.edu
authors.forename: Dorothy K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hatsukami
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rennard
authors.forename: Manoj K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotlyar
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malcolm
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nides
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dozier
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bars
authors.forename: Brenda D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Jamerson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016642:Bupropion / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016642:Bupropion