 |
|
Zyban
Zyban Review
Zyban (Bupropion) is used to help people stop smoking.
Zyban is in a class of medications called antidepressants. It works by increasing certain types of activity in the brain.
Zyban is approved for use in people who smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day and are at least 18 years old.
More than a third of the people who take Zyban while participating in a support program are able to quit smoking for at least 1 month.
Zyban can also prove helpful when people with conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema decide it's time to quit.
Zyban is an effective and well tolerated aid in smoking cessation treatment.
Zyban – How does it work?
Instead of nicotine, Zyban contains the chemical buproprion. It works by boosting the levels of several chemical messengers in the brain. With more of these chemicals at work, you experience a reduction in nicotine withdrawal symptoms and a weakening of the urge to smoke.
Zyban - How to take?
Zyban comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
Treatment is usually initiated while the patient is still smoking and the target date for smoking cessation is normally within the first two weeks of Zyban treatment.
This is because the medicine needs time to start working.
Zyban therapy then continues for 7 to 12 weeks, depending on the effect of the therapy.
The starting dose is one tablet once a day for six days, increasing on day seven to one tablet twice a day. There should be an interval of at least eight hours between doses.
It is best to take your first dose when you get up in the morning and your second dose at least eight hours later.
Try to avoid taking your second dose at bedtime, as difficulty sleeping (insomnia) is a common side effect of the medicine.
It is important to swallow Zyban Tablets whole. Do not chew, divide, or crush tablets.
If you have not managed to stop smoking by the seventh week of treatment, your doctor will ask you to stop taking this medicine.
Zyban Side Effects
Like all medicines, Zyban may cause side effects.
Common side effects include:
- Dry mouth, affecting 1 out of 10 people who use Zyban.
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia), affecting 35% to 40% of people. If you take a morning and evening dose, taking the evening dose in the afternoon may help with sleep problems. Take the evening dose at least 8 hours after the morning dose.
In over 70% of the people who use Zyban, the above side effects go away within about a week after they stop taking the medicine. Only about 10% of people have to stop taking Zyban because of side effects.
Less common side effects (occurring in less than 10% of people) include:
- Dizziness.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Upset stomach (nausea).
- Anxiety.
- Constipation.
- Tremors.
- Skin problems or rashes.
Zyban Precautions
Do not take Zyban if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days.
Avoid alcohol or drink it only in moderation while taking Zyban. Alcohol may increase the risk of having a seizure while taking Zyban. However, if you usually drink a lot of alcohol, talk with your doctor before stopping. Suddenly stopping may increase the risk of having a seizure. Talk to your doctor about alcohol use before starting treatment with Zyban.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities.
Zyban may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Zyban Storage
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
|
|
|
