Arizona Smokers’ Helpline
Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine that does not have nicotine and helps people quit smoking. For many people, it cuts down on cravings and withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, frustration or anger, anxiety, trouble concentrating, restlessness and depression.
Zyban works with the chemicals in the brain (dopamine and norepinephrine) that are associated with nicotine addiction, cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
You don’t have to stop smoking when you begin using Zyban. It’s recommended that after two weeks of using Zyban, you should stop smoking and follow the rest of the treatment plan.
You should not take Zyban if you:
It is best not to drink alcohol while taking Zyban. If you drink alcohol and suddenly stop, you may increase your chance of having a seizure. It is very important to talk about this with your doctor.
You may get dry mouth and have trouble sleeping. These effects should be mild and often disappear after a few weeks. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid Zyban too close to bedtime.
A few people get skin rashes and shakiness and have had to stop using Zyban. If you get a rash or more serious side effects, contact your doctor or health care professional.
How to take Zyban:
It is recommended that you take one 150-mg tablet in the morning for the first three days. On the fourth day, keep taking one tablet in the morning and start taking one tablet in the early evening. You should take Zyban for 7 to 12 weeks—depending on your doctor’s instructions. If it upsets your stomach, you can take it with food.
A study done in Tucson, Arizona found that smokers using Zyban quit smoking more successfully than smokers using a nicotine patch. Using both Zyban and a nicotine patch helped even more. Everyone in the study was also given brief individual stop smoking counseling.
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