Tabaquismo — bupropión

Why / when / how

Bupropion helps people who smoke to quit tobacco and to maintain abstinence, although its effect is smaller than that of other pharmacological options and it tends to come with more discontinuations due to adverse effects, which is why it is positioned as a second-line alternative. The certainty of the evidence for the critical outcomes is high. This is why the recommendation is conditional in favor: despite the high certainty, the balance against the more effective alternatives makes its use depend on each person's context.

Cautions

Before intervening on substance use and exposure to toxicants, assess the patient's consumption pattern, dependence, and clinical conditions, and individualize the approach. Discontinuing substances that produce physical dependence may require medical supervision because of the risk of a withdrawal syndrome, so it should not be stopped abruptly without assessment. Advise seeking professional care in the presence of any warning sign, including in crisis situations, and refer to specialized addiction treatment/environmental health services, according to the case. Reassess the course periodically.

Quantitative evidence