Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Zyban WorksHow to Use ZybanContraindicationsCommon Side EffectsSerious Side EffectsEffectiveness

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Zyban Works

How to Use Zyban

Contraindications

Common Side Effects

Serious Side Effects

Effectiveness

Zyban was originally marketed as anantidepressant drugunder the brand nameWellbutrin. It became apparent that bupropion was an effective quit aid because people who smoked who used it to treatdepressionalso lost interest in smoking. People not planning to quit smoking found themselves stopping with relative ease while on the antidepressant.

Later, bupropion hydrochloride was given the brand name of Zyban, and in 1997, the FDA approved it as a quit smoking aid. When used in combination withnicotine replacement therapy (NRT), the chance for long-term success with smoking cessation increases.

At a GlanceHow Zyban reduces the urge to smoke isn’t entirely clear, but it appears to make nicotine less rewarding and reduces interest in smoking. Once prescribed, it is typically taken for seven weeks, but may be taken for shorter or longer periods depending on your results and your doctor’s recommendations.Talk to your doctor about potential side effects. You should also not take this medication if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking an MAOI, or have a seizure or eating disorder.

At a Glance

How Zyban reduces the urge to smoke isn’t entirely clear, but it appears to make nicotine less rewarding and reduces interest in smoking. Once prescribed, it is typically taken for seven weeks, but may be taken for shorter or longer periods depending on your results and your doctor’s recommendations.Talk to your doctor about potential side effects. You should also not take this medication if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking an MAOI, or have a seizure or eating disorder.

How Zyban reduces the urge to smoke isn’t entirely clear, but it appears to make nicotine less rewarding and reduces interest in smoking. Once prescribed, it is typically taken for seven weeks, but may be taken for shorter or longer periods depending on your results and your doctor’s recommendations.

Talk to your doctor about potential side effects. You should also not take this medication if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking an MAOI, or have a seizure or eating disorder.

It isn’t completely understood how Zyban works as a quit aid, but we do know that it alters brain chemistry in such a way thatnicotineis rendered less effective.The result is a reduced interest in smoking, andnicotine cravings and withdrawalare minimal.

While this medication was developed as an antidepressant, you do not need to be diagnosed with depression for it to work as a quit smoking aid. That said, if you develop quit-related depression, Zyban may help to offset the symptoms.

Depression Related to Quitting Smoking

Zyban is not sold over the counter, so you must see your doctor for a prescription. You will begin taking Zyban while you’re still smoking following a schedule:

When to Stop Taking Zyban

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you miss a dose and it’s close to the time when you’d take the next one, skip taking the pill you missed. Never take a double dose to catch up as this could increase the risk for seizures.

What Happens If You Take Too Much Zyban?

If you take too much Zyban accidentally, call your doctor, contact poison control, or go to an emergency room at your local hospital immediately, even if you’re not experiencing anything out of the ordinary.

You should not stop taking Zyban abruptly unless you experience one of the side effects listed below that indicate stopping usage. Consult with your doctor immediately if you experience any side effects.

Who Should Not Use Zyban

Zyban isn’t suitable for everyone. You shouldn’t take Zyban if you use any other drug containing bupropion hydrochloride or if you are allergic to bupropion hydrochloride. If you are taking or have recently taken amonoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), you should avoid taking Zyban as well.

People with certain conditions shouldn’t take Zyban, such as if you have or have had a seizure disorder or aneating disorder.

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t take Zyban. It’s also recommended you don’t take Zyban if you are abruptly discontinuing alcohol or sedatives (includingbenzodiazepines).

Common Zyban Side Effects

There are many common side effects linked with using Zyban. If any of these side effects become severe or don’t go away, see your doctor:

Less Common But Serious Zyban Side Effects

Though less common, Zyban is also associated with more serious side effects. Serious side effects warrant medical attention. If you experience side effects associated with an allergic reaction, you should stop taking Zyban immediately.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following while taking Zyban:

You should immediately stop taking Zyban and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

If you experience any of these serious side effects, discontinue Zyban and see your doctor or go to an emergency room right away.

In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the makers of Zyban and Chantix, another prescription quit aid, to post a warning on product packaging about potentially severe side effects.

If you have any troublesome problems not listed here and you’re concerned about whether they might be related to Zyban, check in with your prescribing doctor as soon as possible.

How Effective Is Zyban?

Of the small number of studies done on Zyban efficacy over the years, success rates seem to be in the 30% range for people who are smoke-free at the one-year mark.

Effectiveness improves somewhat when Zyban is taken along with over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, such as nicotine gums, lozenges,patches, and sprays. When used with NRTs, the rate climbs slightly to approximately 35.5% for those who didn’t smoke at all during the first year.

More important, perhaps, is how effective Zyban can be when you couple it with a good smoking cessationsupport group.Supportmay be the most important quit tool you can employ, whether online or in person.

Research has found that social support, along with behavioral interventions, increases motivation to quit among people who relapse.It often takes more than one attempt to quit successfully, so combining these approaches can improve long-term outcomes and success.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database

Best Non-Medical Ways to Quit Smoking

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Ebbert JO, Hays JT, Hurt RD.Combination pharmacotherapy for stopping smoking: What advantages does it offer?.Drugs. 2010;70(6):643–650. doi:10.2165/11536100-000000000-00000

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Zyban (buproprion hydrochloride) sustained-release tablets.

Wilkes S.The use of bupropion SR in cigarette smoking cessation.Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2008;3(1):45–53. doi:10.2147/copd.s1121

Hartmann-Boyce J, Hong B, Livingstone-Banks J, Wheat H, Fanshawe TR.Additional behavioural support as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;6(6):CD009670. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009670.pub4

Soulakova JN, Tang CY, Leonardo SA, Taliaferro LA.Motivational benefits of social support and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation.J Smok Cessat. 2018;13(4):216-226. doi:10.1017/jsc.2017.26

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Efficacy of Zyban and NRT.Medscape.govt.nz.Zyban Consumer Medicine Information.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. GlaxoSmithKlineZyban Medication Guide.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Efficacy of Zyban and NRT.

Medscape.govt.nz.Zyban Consumer Medicine Information.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. GlaxoSmithKlineZyban Medication Guide.

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