Bupropion has been used to treat psychic depression and as a therapy for smoking cessation, the latter mainly in association with nicotine. However, there have been no detailed studies of the hemodynamic effects of the association of bupropion with nicotine during replacement therapy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of such an association on the cardiovascular parameters in anesthetized dogs. Bupropion, either alone or together with nicotine, had no significant effect on the cardiac index (CI; 4.7 +/- 0.2 vs 4.3 +/- 0.1 and 3.5 +/- 0.3 vs 3.4 +/- 0.3 L x min(-1) x m(2), respectively; mean +/- SEM) and mean arterial pressure (MAP; 134 +/- 5.0 vs 145 +/- 11.0 and 118 +/- 5.0 vs 133 +/- 10.5 mmHg, respectively). There was a slight but significant increase in the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI; 2,165 +/- 93 vs 2,645 +/- 126 and 2,335 +/- 100 vs 2,737 +/- 200 dyn x cm(-5)m(-2), respectively). However, there was a significant increase in the mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP; 20 +/- 0.8 vs 25 +/- 1.6 and 18 +/- 1.3 vs 25 +/- 1.6 mmHg, respectively; p < 0.05) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (IRVP; 194 +/- 11 vs 272 +/- 21 and 206 +/- 32 vs 307 +/- 42 dyn x cm-5m(-2), respectively; p < 0.05). These results show that bupropion alone or in association with nicotine does not markedly affect most hemodynamic parameters of the systemic circulation, although the significant increase in MPAP and IRVP can elevate the pulmonary pressure.