Bupropion for the Prevention of Postpartum Smoking Relapse

Our team has studied women’s health and smoking behavior for over 30 years, and we have found that specific factors, including changes in sex hormone levels, psychosocial factors, and cigarette craving symptoms are associated with smoking behavior and smoking relapse. In our current project, we are extending our work to look at smoking behavior in postpartum women.

Some known predictors of postpartum relapse are not modifiable (e.g., age, race, gravidity). However, addressing other potentially modifiable smoking risk factors, including stress, fatigue, weight concerns, depression, and cigarette cravings, may reduce the risk of postpartum smoking relapse. Bupropion has been shown to double cessation rates when compared to placebo and has the potential to address many of the modifiable smoking relapse risk factors experienced by women during the postpartum period. Treatments, such as Bupropion, that address the multi-faceted reasons related to postpartum smoking relapse have the potential to significantly increase long-term sustained smoking abstinence.

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the impact of Bupropion on postpartum smoking behavior among women who quit or want to quit smoking and to explore how Bupropion may impact modifiable smoking risk factors in this population.