Research has indicated that women smokers have more difficulty quitting and maintaining abstinence from cigarettes than men. Several factors may contribute to gender differences in smoking cessation outcomes, including depression and fears of gaining weight. NIDA-funded scientists have found that the antidepressant medication bupropion may help women who are light smokers maintain abstinence at rates similar to those of men. For the study, the researchers recruited 314 women and 241 men who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day. Participants were assigned to receive bupropion, commonly known as Zyban or Wellbutrin, accompanied by behavioral counseling or counseling only. Behavioral counseling was designed to help participants reduce smoking, learn to cope with stress and situations that trigger their desire to smoke, and prevent relapse. Two weeks after participants began taking bupropion, or on the day of the third counseling session, they were instructed to stop smoking. Abstinence from smoking was evaluated at 8 weeks (end of treatment) and 6 months after the quit date, and was verified by saliva analysis for the presence of cotinine, an indicator of smoking.
