From the Guidelines
The typical effective dose of Wellbutrin (bupropion) for smoking cessation is 150 mg orally, twice daily, if tolerated, with an initial dose of 150 mg orally, once daily for the first 3 days. This dosing regimen is based on the guidelines outlined in the study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which provides evidence-based recommendations for smoking cessation 1. The medication is usually started 1-2 weeks before the target quit date and continued for 7-12 weeks. Key points to consider when prescribing Wellbutrin for smoking cessation include:
- Initiate dosing 1–2 weeks prior to quitting
- Days 1–3: 150 mg orally, once daily
- Day 4–12 weeks: 150 mg orally, twice daily, if tolerated
- Maximum 300 mg per day It is essential to monitor patients for potential side effects, such as serious neuropsychiatric issues, including depression and suicidal ideation/behavior, and discontinue use if these signs occur 1. Additionally, Wellbutrin is contraindicated for patients with seizure risks, those taking MAO inhibitors, or those with closed-angle glaucoma 1.
From the Research
Typical Wellbutrin Dose for Smoking Cessation
The typical dose of Wellbutrin (bupropion) effective for smoking cessation is 300 mg/day, as indicated in several studies 2, 3.
Efficacy of Bupropion for Smoking Cessation
- Bupropion 300 mg/day has been associated with significantly higher smoking abstinence rates compared to placebo 2.
- Combination therapy with bupropion and nicotine patch has been shown to provide slightly higher abstinence rates than bupropion alone, although the differences were not statistically significant 2.
- Bupropion has been found to be more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation in some studies 4, 3.
- The efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation has been evaluated in various studies, with results indicating that it is an effective aid for quitting smoking 2, 5, 4, 6, 3.
Combination Therapy with Bupropion
- Combination therapy with bupropion and varenicline has been shown to be effective for smoking cessation, with higher abstinence rates compared to varenicline monotherapy 5, 6.
- The combination of bupropion and varenicline may be more beneficial in males and patients with higher baseline nicotine dependence 5.
- Combination therapy with bupropion and nicotine patch has been found to be superior to nicotine patch alone 2.