Bupropion may support psychosocial treatment of nicotine-dependent adolescents: preliminary results

Abstract

Study objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of long-term bupropion therapy for nicotine dependence in adolescents.

Design: Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient clinic in Innsbruck, Austria.

Subjects: Twenty-two adolescents, aged 16-19 years, with nicotine dependence.

Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to receive bupropion 150 mg/day or placebo for 90 days.

Measurements and main results: Patients were classified as abstinent or relapsed on day 0 (when study drug was started) and again on days 30 and 90, according to their self-reports. Treatment failure was defined as relapse or nonattendance. Time to first treatment failure was the primary outcome measure. Mean cumulative abstinence duration was significantly greater in the bupropion group than in the placebo group (78.4 +/- 39.6 vs 30.2 +/- 19.2 days. p=0.0042).

Conclusion: Bupropion seems to be an effective and well-tolerated pharmacologic adjunct to psychosocial and behavioral treatment programs for some adolescent nicotine-dependent patients. However, experienced clinicians should continuously monitor patients for adverse effects.