PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Robinson, Mark D.
AU  - Pettice, Yvonne L.
AU  - Smith, Wiley A.
AU  - Cederstrom, Eric A.
AU  - Sutherland, Donald E.
AU  - Davis, Harry
TI  - Buspirone Effect On Tobacco Withdrawal Symptoms: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.5.1.1
DP  - 1992 Jan 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Practice
PG  - 1--9
VI  - 5
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/5/1/1.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/5/1/1.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med1992 Jan 01; 5
AB  - Background: Withdrawal symptoms hinder smoking cessation in nicotine-dependent smokers. This prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate buspirone for nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Methods: Fifty-four heavy smokers (mean 33.1 cigarettes per day for 24 years) were randomly prescribed 30 mg/d of buspirone or placebo beginning 3 weeks before abrupt smoking cessation. Validated nicotine withdrawal and anxiety scales were administered at baseline and serially for 2 weeks after cessation. Results: Baseline demographic and nicotine-dependence measures were similar for each group. Three smokers (1 on buspirone, 2 on placebo) dropped out of the protocol prior to the quit date. Both groups had significant withdrawal effects over time (analysis of variance [ANOVA] P = 0.0001). There was no significant buspirone effect on any nicotine withdrawal symptoms (ANOVA, α = 0.05). Smokers who relapsed, regardless of group, reported significantly worse craving, irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating than abstainers (P < 0.05). Relapse rates at follow-up visits were not significantly different between groups. Two-week abstinence rates were 52 percent for placebo and 62 percent for buspirone (chi-square, P = 0.760). Conclusions: In these heavy smokers, buspirone offered no relief from nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Regardless of treatment, relapsing smokers experienced more intense nicotine withdrawal.