Grant Funds Research On Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 24 Dec 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researcher Tatiana N. Nanovskaya has received a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to advance her research on the safety of bupropion for smoking cessation during pregnancy.

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. At least one brand of bupropion (Zyban) is used to help people stop smoking by reducing cravings and other withdrawal effects. The efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation in adult males and non-pregnant females has been demonstrated; however, the use of bupropion for treatment of pregnant smokers requires additional data on its biodisposition during pregnancy and its potential risk to fetal development.

According to Nanovskaya, information on the effects of bupropion on the pregnant woman and the developing fetus is scarce and precludes its consideration for clinical trials in pregnant women. Therefore, the focus of her research is to provide information on the biodisposition of bupropion and its major pharmacologically active metabolite by human placenta.

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

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