Smoking and psychotropic medications

Rates of smoking are significantly higher in persons with mental disorders than in others. Tobacco smoke contains compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that induce some cytochrome P450 enzymes, most importantly CYP1A2. Smoking also leads to induction of UGTs, another system of enzymes that metabolize many psychotropic medications. Is this clinically important? Yes, for certain drugs the…