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Biomedical subjects

David Gonzales

Publications and source records attributed to David Gonzales.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of bupropion sustained-release on cigarette craving after smoking cessation.

BACKGROUND: Most (>50%) smokers who attempt to stop smoking relapse within the first year of abstinence. The effect of continued use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation on relapse rates is unknown. Bupropion sustained-release (SR) is the first non-nicotine-based therapy that is effective for achieving abstinence from smoking. OBJECTIVE: This analysis explored the factors involved in relapse to smoking in patients who had successfully stopped smoking using bupropion SR. These patients were participants in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of bupropion SR for the prevention of relapse to smoking. METHODS: Participants who had stopped smoking with 7 weeks of open-label bupropion SR were randomly assigned to receive double-blind treatment with either bupropion SR or placebo for 45 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome of the main study was the rate of relapse to smoking. The analyses presented here examine the levels of reported cigarette craving and, in those participants who returned to smoking, the reasons associated with relapse, using patient-completed questionnaires. RESULTS: Craving was cited most frequently as a factor contributing to relapse in those participants receiving placebo (cited by 49.2% of relapsers) but significantly less frequently by participants receiving bupropion SR (cited by 22.4% of relapsers) (P < 0.05). Results from patients' diaries showed no differences between bupropion SR and placebo in terms of "craving in the past 24 hours" but significantly lower scores for "craving right now" for bupropion SR at weeks 11 and 12 (P < 0.05). Results at scheduled visits showed that "craving in the past 24 hours" was significantly less with bupropion SR compared with placebo at weeks 12, 20, and 48, and "craving right now" was significantly less with bupropion SR compared with placebo at weeks 12, 16, 20, 24, 48, and 52 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Craving continues to be a significant concern for individuals even after they have successfully stopped smoking. Bupropion SR appears to reduce reported cravings, which may contribute to the overall reduction in the rate of relapse observed with this pharmacotherapy.

Adult↗

Effects of gender on relapse prevention in smokers treated with bupropion SR.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that women smokers respond differently than men to cessation pharmacotherapies, particularly nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Lower abstinence and higher relapse rates are often reported for women treated with NRT. Gender effects for those treated with non-nicotinic, bupropion-hydrochloride sustained release for relapse prevention have not been studied. METHODS: Data from a multicenter relapse-prevention (RP) trial of bupropion (November 1995-June 1998) were analyzed for gender differences. Men and women smokers (N=784) were treated with open-label bupropion for 7 weeks. Those abstinent at Week 7 (n=432) were enrolled in the double-blind relapse-prevention phase and randomized to placebo or continued bupropion for 45 additional weeks. RESULTS: Differences in point-prevalence abstinence rates between men (61.8%) and women (55.6%) in open-label bupropion (Week 7) were not significant. In the RP-phase Week 52, continuous abstinence rates for men and women were 37.8% and 36.4% (bupropion) and 36.6% and 29.9% (placebo), respectively; point-prevalence abstinence rates for men and women were 54.1% and 55.9% (bupropion) and 42.9% and 41.3% (placebo), respectively. Abstinence rates and time to relapse were superior for both men and women who received longer treatment. Gender differences within treatment groups were not significant. Median time to relapse was equal for men and women within each treatment group: Week 32 for bupropion and Week 20 for placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that bupropion is a promising pharmacotherapy for preventing relapse, particularly for women.

Adult↗

Bupropion for pharmacologic relapse prevention to smoking: predictors of outcome.

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of successful relapse prevention in smokers receiving long-term sustained-release bupropion. Smokers (N= 784) who were interested in stopping smoking were enrolled in a 7-week, open-label bupropion phase. Abstinent subjects at the end of treatment and eligible to proceed (N= 429) were randomized to active bupropion or placebo through Week 52 and then followed for an additional year. The best overall predictor of less relapse to smoking was assignment to active bupropion. In aggregate, the results indicate that bupropion can be prescribed to diverse populations of smokers with expected comparable results. There was a medication effect that was independent of any predictor except older age and those who gained no or minimal weight during the open-label phase. Predictors of successful relapse prevention included lower baseline smoking rates, a Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire score of < 6, and initiation of smoking at an older age. These data should encourage others to perform similar pharmacologic relapse prevention studies with this or other pharmacotherapies.

Adult↗

Developing a successful hospitalist program.

In 1998, St. Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, became one of the first hospitals to develop a hospitalist program. The administration and physicians discovered critical elements that must be built to achieve success.

Decision Making, Organizational↗