Smoking cessation efficacy of topiramate in patients with depression

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of topiramate on smoking cessation in patients with depression.METHODS Ninety-nine patients were divided into treatment group and control group,and all were treated with antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral interventions,but topiramate 200 mg·d~(-1) was given indivi-dually to the treatment group in addition from the 1 st to 4 th week,and then decreased progressively from the 5 th week,and finelly discontinued at the end of the 8 th week;as a course of 12 weeks.At the end of 12 th week,the smoking abstinence rate,expiration carbon monoxide(CO) level,HAMD,STAI,etc were recorded and compared.RESULTS The complete abstinence rate of treatment group was 52%,showing significant difference with that of the control group(18%,P 0.01 ).The severity of smoking craving,score of HAMD and STAI,concentration of expired CO in treatment group(2.1±1.0,3.1±1.7,44±5,(6.6±1.6)×10~(-6)) were significantly lower than those in control group(4.0±1.8,7.2±1.7,49±10,(12±4)×10~(-6),P 0.01).The adverse reactions were mild and tolerable.CONCLUSION The results indicate that topiramate is immediately effective in smoking cessation for depressive smokers,with mild and tolerable adverse reactions.