Home page        Zybanâ(Bupropion) INFORMATION

Download Word version of leaflet

 Zyban is a new treatment to help smokers to stop. It is intended as an aid to smoking cessation, in combination with motivational support in nicotine dependent patients.

 Zyban was originally developed as an antidepressant and it seems to work by reducing craving for cigarettes and reducing the effects of withdrawal.

The main side effects of Zyban are insomnia and a dry mouth. Other side effects more rarely encountered are stomach upset, tremor, a rash, anxiety and fever. There have been reports of fits/seizures in patients taking Zyban but these are rare (about 1 in 1000 patients). You must report any side effects to your doctor. 

Zyban is taken once a day for the first three days then twice daily. It should be taken for 1 week before stopping smoking to “get into your system”. The course of treatment is 2 months for most people. This should be considered a once only treatment, as there is no evidence that using it twice is beneficial. It is therefore important that you are motivated to stop smoking and ready to do so. Ask yourself these questions:

             Do I want to stop smoking?

            How important is it for me to stop smoking?

            Am I ready to stop smoking in the near future?

Patients in the trials of this drug received a lot of counselling and support, which may have been a reason for its success. At present, such intensive support is not available in the surgery. Specialist smoking clinics are likely to be available next year where Zyban will be used. If you are prepared to wait, this may increase your chances of quitting.

If you have not tried to stop smoking before, motivation or willpower alone is sufficient for some people. Nicotine replacement in the form of patches/gum/inhalator is also effective, doubling your chances of success.  

There are help leaflets already in the surgery. There is also a national helpline 0800 169 0 169 and a website www.givingupsmoking.co.uk. Zyban also comes with its own support package, which you need to send off for at the start of treatment. You should seek as much help and support as possible while giving up smoking.

 You should NOT take Zyban if:

 ·           You are pregnant or likely to become pregnant on Zyban

·           You have ever had an eating disorder (e.g. bulimia or anorexia)

·           If you have severe cirrhosis of the liver

·           If you have ever suffered from the illness known as bipolar disease or manic depression

·           If you have ever suffered from seizures (fits)

 You must also discuss with your doctor, if you answer YES to any of the following questions:

 ·           Are you breast-feeding?

·           Are you under 18?

·           Are you elderly?

·           Do you have any liver or kidney disease?

 ·           Have you had any of the following that are known to increase the risk of seizures:

                                                                                    Head Injury

                                                                                    Brain Tumour

                                                                                    Alcohol abuse or sudden withdrawal

                                                                                    From alcohol or sedatives.

                                                                                    Diabetes requiring medication

·           Are you taking any of the following medications?

                         Nicotine replacement therapy

                        Slimming medicines

                        Anti-depressants

                        Drugs to treat other mental illnesses

                        Beta-blockers (e.g. atenolol)

                        Drugs to treat abnormal heart rhythm (e.g. amiodarone, felcainide)

                        Steroids

                        Carbamazepine, phenobarbitol, phenyotin, valproate, levodopa, theophylline, pentazocrine, orphenadrine, cyclophosphamide, ifosphamide.

 Zyban may affect the ability to drive and use machines. You must exercise caution until you are reasonably certain that the drug does not affect your performance.

The following questions will be useful for your doctor if they are thinking about starting you on Zyban.

Have you tried the following treatments?    Patches         Yes/No             Gum     Yes/No

Have you tried any other ways of stopping smoking? Please state__________________________

Please tick the ONE main reason why you have decided to stop smoking

Smoking related illness in a friend/relative_________  Health benefits for you __________

Health benefits for family/friends __________ Self esteem _________ Financial ___________

GP/Nurse advice __________ Increased social pressure ___________

  Home Health links Internet directory 
 Subscribe to newsletter
Send any website enquiries to Feedback@wansford.co.uk
Site design - Dr Amrit Takhar
Last modified: July 06, 2003