TABLE 3

Serum levels of nicotine, cotinine, bupropion, and hydroxybupropion following patch replacement

On the final day of treatment (bupropion with or without nicotine), blood was collected from all rabbits to determine serum nicotine, cotinine, bupropion, and hydroxybupropion concentrations. Blood was drawn just prior to nicotine patch replacement or oral administration of Zyban sustained-release tablets (0 h) and 6 h after patch replacement or administration of bupropion. Since the nicotine transdermal patches were replaced every 24 h (at 8:30 AM), time 0 was equivalent to a baseline value (24 h postpatch replacement). Serum levels of nicotine, bupropion, and their major metabolites were measured as described under Materials and Methods using gas and LC/mass spectrometry techniques. G-13, -15, -16, -19, and -20 denote individual rabbits.