CYP2B6 and bupropions smoking-cessation pharmacology: The role of hydroxybupropion

A. Z X Zhu, L. S. Cox, N. Nollen, B. Faseru, K. S. Okuyemi, J. S. Ahluwalia, N. L. Benowitz, R. F. Tyndale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bupropion is indicated to promote smoking cessation. Animal studies suggest that the pharmacologic activity of bupropion can be mediated by its major metabolite, hydroxybupropion. We measured plasma bupropion and its metabolite levels in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized smoking-cessation trial. Among the treatment-adherent individuals, higher hydroxybupropion concentrations (per μg/ml) resulted in better smoking-cessation outcomes (week 3, 7, and 26 odds ratio (OR) = 2.82, 2.96, and 2.37, respectively, P = 0.005-0.040); this was not observed with bupropion levels (OR = 1.00-1.03, P = 0.59-0.90). Genetic variation in CYP2B6, the enzyme that metabolizes bupropion to hydroxybupropion, was identified as a significant source of variability in hydroxybupropion formation. Our data indicate that hydroxybupropion contributes to the pharmacologic effects of bupropion for smoking cessation, and that variability in response to bupropion treatment is related to variability in CYP2B6-mediated hydroxybupropion formation. These findings suggest that dosing of bupropion to achieve a hydroxybupropion level of 0.7 μg/ml or increasing bupropion dose for CYP2B6 slow metabolizers could improve bupropions cessation outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)771-777
Number of pages7
JournalClinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Volume92
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

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