Bupropion: risks and benefits

Cigarette smoking represents one of the most preventable causes of death worldwide. However, success rates for stopping smoking are disappointingly low and are associated with high relapse rates. There is a need for a successful form of smoking cessation therapy. Bupropion is an effective therapy for smoking cessation and is recommended as first-line treatment in both US and UK guidelines. Its mechanism of action in smoking cessation is unclear, although it is thought that dopaminergic pathways are involved in the 'reward' circuit of drug dependence. Seizures are an important adverse effect of bupropion and care is needed when used in other conditions or with other medication that can lower the seizure threshold. Bupropion has been shown to be a cost-effective therapy for smoking cessation.