A patient with a 20-year history of dysthymia had been treated with a range of anti-depressants over a period of two decades. He had experienced no clinically significant symptomatic relief for 14 years until he was recommenced on fluoxetine, a drug which had been of limited benefit to him previously. He showed no improvement in motivation, chronic anergia or easy fatiguability. He commenced an anti-smoking agent, bupropion hydrochloride (Zyban), without informing his treating psychiatrist and following the manufacturers' instructions, took the drug for four weeks, while initially continuing to smoke. He failed to discontinue smoking. However, his energy, motivation and general sense of wellbeing improved markedly, to the extent that his friends and colleagues commented upon the change.

Bupropion hydrochloride is a well-known anti-depressant agent not currently licensed for use in Ireland. His combination of fluoxetine and bupropion has improved his functioning to its best level in 20 years. The improvement has been sustained for over six months. We examine the issues raised by this unusual combination, which I have termed ‘southern comfort’, in recognition of its geographical site of clinical impact.