Comparison of Nicotine Inhaler and/or Bupropion in Helping People to Stop Smoking and Prevent the Recurrence of Smoking

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Currently smoking at least 10 cigarettes per day Smoked regularly for the past year Motivated to use study medication More than 30 days since prior use of tobacco products other than cigarettes (e.g., smokeless tobacco, pipes, cigars, or snuff) No active chemical dependence of drug other than nicotine (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other illicit drugs) within the past year PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or cardiac arrhythmias within the past 3 months Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception for at least 3 months prior to and during study Good health by medical history No history of seizure disorder No epilepsy No prior serious head trauma or other predisposing factors to seizures (e.g., alcohol withdrawal, febrile seizures during childhood, brain tumor, cerebrovascular accident, or family history of idiopathic seizure disorder) No known hypersensitivity or allergy to nicotine, menthol, or bupropion No prior or concurrent diagnosis of bulimia or anorexia nervosa No other member of household currently enrolled on this study No bipolar disorder, psychosis, or schizophrenia PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Not specified Endocrine therapy: More than 30 days since prior systemic steroids Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: More than 30 days since other prior behavioral or pharmacologic smoking- cessation program (e.g., behavioral therapy, nicotine replacement therapy, clonidine, bupropion, nortriptyline, or doxepin) More than 30 days since prior investigational drugs More than 30 days since prior antipsychotics or antidepressants More than 30 days since prior theophylline More than 30 days since prior monoamine oxidase inhibitor More than 30 days since prior medication containing bupropion No concurrent antiepileptic medications No concurrent medications known to lower seizure threshold No other concurrent investigational drugs