Zyban helps you quit smoking. Below are the most frequently asked questions about Zyban. If you are a smoker and need help quitting, Zyban may be right for you.
Zyban (bupropion) is the only non-nicotine FDA-approved medication used as an aid to stop smoking. It is made by GlaxoSmithKline Inc., based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Zyban is not a patch or gum, it is a nicotine-free pill. Zyban reduces withdrawal symptoms and the urge to smoke. For best results, Zyban should be used with a patient support program such as a behavioral program, counseling, or other support program.
You can buy Zyban by going to our Zyban price comparison page where you can select your preferred online US pharmacy with the lowest Zyban prices, no prior prescription required.
If this is your first time ordering Zyban online, see our beginner’s guide , where the process of obtaining a prescription online and ordering your medication is explained.
If you’d like to quit smoking, but are unable to do so, you should use Zyban. For best results, you should use Zyban together with a patient support program such as a behavioral program, counseling, and/or other support programs.
- Have or have had a seizure disorder (epilepsy).
- Are already taking Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, or any other medicines that contain bupropion hydrochloride.
- Have or have had an eating disorder (bulimia or anorexia nervosa).
- Are abruptly discontinuing use of alcohol or sedatives (including benzodiazepines).
- Are currently taking or have recently taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
- Are allergic to bupropion.
It is important to let your doctor know, during either a physical or online consultation, about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking, and if you have or have had other medical conditions especially head injury, brain tumor, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver problems, kidney problems, diabetes, alcohol/drug dependence.
There is no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to bupropion. But there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Zyban should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Bupropion is secreted in breast milk, which can lead to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants. Nursing mothers must either stop nursing or discontinue Zyban. Women should notify their doctor if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking Zyban.
When used with a nicotine patch or alone, there is a risk of increased blood pressure, sometimes severe. Let your doctor know if you have hypertension (high blood pressure).
Zyban should be used with extreme caution in patients with severe liver disease. If you have liver or kidney problems, tell your doctor before taking Zyban. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage.
Only your healthcare provider can tell you for sure if you should or not take Zyban. Inform your healthcare provider, during either a physical or online consultation, about all the medicines you are taking, prescription or over-the-counter, and about any medical conditions you have or have had, including allergies.
Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals.
When you inhale smoke from a cigarette, it passes through your mouth and throat then into your lungs. Tissue coming in contact with the smoke gets irritated by the chemicals in the smoke.
When the smoke reaches the lungs, many of the chemicals are absorbed into your blood while a residue called tar is left in your lungs.
The chemicals in your blood travel through your body affecting all of your organs. Nicotine, one of the compounds in cigarettes, affects chemicals in your brain, which can lead to addiction.
Smoking Statistics
50 million Americans smoke. Approximately 420,000 Americans die every year as a result of smoking.
Smoking and Your Lungs
Smoking greatly increases your risk of lung cancer and respiratory problems like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It can also increase the severity of asthma. It is responsible for 90 percent of all cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Smoking and Your Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
Smoking increases your risk of cardiovascular disease two to three-fold. Chemicals in smoke lead to an increase in clogging and hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, smoking is responsible for almost a third of all deaths from heart disease, about 225,000 deaths per year.
Smoking and Diabetes
Diabetics who smoke increase their risk of developing disease complications that affect vision and blood circulation to the limbs.
Smoking and Cancer
Approximately 150,000 people die of smoking-related lung cancer each year. But smoke not only causes lung cancer, it can also cause throat, and mouth cancer. Additionally the chemicals from cigarette smoke that enter the blood can cause cancer in many other organs.
Smoking and Women's Health
Smoking can reduced your chances of becoming pregnant and lead to many complications once you are pregnant such as low infant birth weight. Smokers may also experience an earlier onset of menopause.
Smoking and Men's Health
Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of impotence and decrease sperm activity and sperm count.
Smoking and Your Physical Appearance
Smoking will cause bad breath, and yellowing of the fingernails and teeth. It increases wrinkling of the skin particularly causing many tiny creases. Although you may gain weight after quitting (the average weight gain is about 5 pounds), smoking is much more harmful to your health than gaining a few pounds.
Fortunately, many harmful effects of smoking are reversible if you quit.
Zyban reduces the urge to smoke and decreases withdrawal symptoms for many patients. But to give yourself the greatest chance of successfully quitting, you should use Zyban with a patient support program.
First you should make a plan to quit. Prepare yourself by picking a quit date, identifying people, things, events and situations that make you want to smoke (triggers), and decide ahead of time how you want to avoid or deal with your triggers. Try to find new alternatives to smoking. Decide if you want to join a counseling program, and let your friends and family know about your goal.
Once you stop smoking, try to avoid your triggers if possible. If you do have cravings try to distract yourself by doing something other than thinking about smoking, drink water or chew some gum, or try relaxing by taking deep, slow breaths.
If you slip up and have a cigarette, don’t give up. Remind yourself that quitting is a process and is very difficult. Try to identify why you smoked so you can avoid it next time. Don’t get disappointed in yourself, try and focus on your progress and move forward.
Zyban’s active ingredient, Bupropion, is a weak inhibitor of the reuptake of the neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.
Although it is not known exactly how Zyban works to help patients stop smoking, it is believed that this action is due to Zyban’s influence on the neurotransmitters.
Clinical studies involving almost 2,000 smokers who smoke 15 or more cigarettes daily showed that 30-50 percent of people quit smoking for at least 1 month while taking Zyban and participating in a patient support program, while 20-30 percent were able to maintain abstinence through at least 6 months.
This quit rate was significantly better than the 17-20 percent 1-month and 11-13 percent 6-month abstinence rate reported with a sugar pill and patient support program.
Zyban has been used as an aid to stop smoking since 1997, but its active ingredient bupropion has been on the market to treat depression since 1985. Its safety and efficacy profile has been maintained by real-world experience as well as clinical trials.
Zyban has been approved by the FDA to successfully and safely help you quit smoking. However, Zyban may not be for everyone. Make sure to read about Who should not take Zyban? .
Zyban comes in 150mg sustained-release tables only. Zyban should be swallowed whole. The tablet should not be crushed, split, or chewed.
As Zyban may cause sleeplessness avoid taking a dose late in the day. There should be at least 8 hours between each dose. You shouldn’t take more than 2 Zyban pills (300mg) a day.
Do not take more Zyban than the recommended dose. This is important so you do not increase the risk of having a seizure.
Usual Adult Dose
Oral dosage form (Sustained-Release Tablets) - 150mg (one tablet) once daily for the first 3 days, then 150mg twice daily at least 8 hours apart (morning and early evening).
* Start Zyban while you are still smoking, it takes about 1 week to start helping. Set a target-quit date usually in the second week of treatment. Continue taking Zyban when you stop smoking, for 7 to 12 weeks or longer as recommended by your doctor.
You should receive counseling and support during and after the treatment period, as this will increase your chance of quitting and not restarting.
If you have been unable to significantly reduce or stop smoking by the seventh week of therapy with Zyban, treatment should probably be discontinued. Zyban can be used again at a later attempt to stop smoking.
Your doctor may have a plan that varies from above, always follow your doctor’s recommendations.
If you miss a dose of Zyban, do not double the dose to make up for a missed one. Wait and take your next tablet at the regular time. Do not take more tablets than your doctor prescribed as this may increase your risk of having a seizure.
Keep Zyban and all medications out of children's reach.
Store Zyban at room temperature in a tight container. Store away from moisture, heat and direct light. Do not keep medicine past the expiration date, dispose of properly.
You start Zyban while you are still smoking, it takes about 1 week to start helping. Set a target quit-date in the second week of treatment and don’t stop smoking until that date. This will maximize your chance of quitting because it would be harder to stop smoking before Zyban has taken its full effect.
It is not physically dangerous to smoke and use Zyban at the same time. If you want to quit smoking you should not continue to smoke after your target quit-date because it will seriously reduce your chance of breaking your smoking habit.
Nicotine is the addictive component of cigarettes. Nicotine replacement therapy substitutes the nicotine you get from cigarettes with nicotine you take as a gum, patch, lozenge, spray or inhaler. You then gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you need until you don’t need it anymore.
Unlike gums, patches, lozenges, sprays and inhalers, Zyban is a nicotine-free pill FDA-approved to help you quit smoking. Zyban is the first pill that can help reduce your urge to smoke while it decreases withdrawal symptoms.
Also, you should NOT smoke once you start a Nicotine replacement therapy, because you could get too much nicotine from both the therapy and the cigarettes, which could cause serious side effects. With Zyban however, you are supposed to start taking it while you are still smoking and it takes about 1 week to start helping.
Zyban and nicotine replacement products can be used at the same time but your doctor must supervise the use of this combination. Some studies suggest that the combination may be more effective in helping patients quit smoking that either drug used alone.
Using Zyban and nicotine replacement products together may raise your blood pressure, sometimes severely. Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure. If you use Zyban together with nicotine replacement therapy, your doctor will probably want to check your blood pressure regularly to make sure that it stays within acceptable levels.
* Important: Do not smoke at any time while you are using a nicotine replacement product, whether or not you take Zyban at the same time or not. You could get too much nicotine from the combined cigarette smoking and the nicotine replacement therapy, and have serious side effects.
Zyban, like all medications, may cause side effects. Although side effects from Zyban are not common, they can occur.
The most common side effects include dry mouth and difficulty sleeping. These side effects are usually mild and will often go away after a few weeks. If you have difficulty sleeping, avoid taking a dose late in the day (but make sure at least 8 hours have passed since your morning dose).
The most common side effects that caused people to stop taking Zyban during clinical studies were shakiness and skin rash. Stop taking Zyban and contact your doctor immediately if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as a rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around the eyes, or swelling of lips or tongue.
Hypertension (high blood pressure), sometimes severe, has been reported in patients taking Zyban alone or with nicotine replacement products.
There is a chance that approximately 1 out of every 1,000 people (0.1 %) taking bupropion hydrochloride, the active ingredient in Zyban, will have a seizure. The chance of this happening increases if you:
- Have or have had a seizure disorder (epilepsy).
- Have or have had an eating disorder (bulimia or anorexia nervosa).
- Are abruptly discontinuing use of alcohol or sedatives (including benzodiazepines).
- Take more than the recommended amount of Zyban.
- Take medicines with the same active ingredient as Zyban, bupropion, such as Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, or generic bupropion preparations.
Take Zyban as directed by your doctor to reduce the chance of experiencing a seizure. If you experience a seizure while taking Zyban, stop taking the tablets immediately, contact your doctor, and do not restart Zyban.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effects that seem unusual or that are especially bothersome.
In addition to the above possible side effects of Zyban, please be aware of the following as they apply to you.
Driving and Hazardous Work: Zyban may make you dizzy or affect your coordination. Use caution before driving a car or engaging in hazardous work until you know how the medicine affects you.
Consumption of Alcohol: Limit or avoid drinking alcoholic beverages; alcohol can increase your risk of seizures.
Bupropion-containing products: Some medications used to treat depression contain bupropion. Do not take other bupropion-containing products while using Zyban as this may increase your chance of having a seizure.
Pregnancy and Breast Feeding: There is no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to bupropion. But there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Zyban should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Bupropion is secreted in breast milk, which can lead to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants. Nursing mothers must either stop nursing or discontinue Zyban. Women should notify their doctor if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking Zyban.
Kidney and Liver Disease: The side effects may be more likely due to potential for higher blood levels of bupropion. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage.
Mental/Mood Changes: Zyban is not a treatment for depression, but it contains bupropion the same active ingredient as Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL that are used for depression. You and your family should watch out for sudden or severe changes in feelings such as feeling anxious, agitated, severely restless, hyperactive, overly excited, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, not being able to sleep, worsening depression or thoughts of suicide. These symptoms should be reported to your doctor immediately.
Do NOT share your Zyban prescription with others, this can be a very dangerous practice.
Inform your doctor, during either a physical or online consultation, about all the medicines you use, prescription and non-prescription. Certain medicines should never be used together. Some medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may change the dose, monitor the effects or take other precautions.
Risk of increased blood pressure Nicotine replacement products (gum, patch, lozenge, spray or inhaler).
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors Before starting to take Zyban, you should wait at least 14 days after stopping a MAO inhibitor such as: Furoxone (furazolidone), Nardil (phenelzine), Eldepryl (selegiline), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Matulane (procarbazine), Parnate (tranylcypromine).
Increased risk of seizure Phenothiazines (thioridazine), tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, clomipramine, amoxapine, doxepin, nortriptyline, trimipramine, amoxapine, desipramine, imipramine, protriptyline, isoniazid (INH), theophylline, systemic steroids, over-the-counter stimulants and weight loss medications, oral hypoglycemics or insulin, and others.
Risk of increased side effects Levodopa or amantadine.
Zyban increases the following medications’ potency Certain antidepressants (nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline), antipsychotics (haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine), beta-blockers (metoprolol), and antiarrhythmics (propafenone, flecainide).
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Zyban.
It is best to avoid drinking alcohol or to drink very little while taking Zyban. Drinking a lot of alcohol then stopping suddenly may increase your chance of having a seizure. Some people have reported lower alcohol tolerance while they are taking Zyban. Discuss your use of alcohol with your doctor before you start taking Zyban.
Symptoms of an overdose of Zyban may include: blurred vision, lightheadedness, confusion, nausea, and seizures.
If someone takes a much larger dose of Zyban than recommended, call your doctor, emergency medical services (EMS) 911, or the poison control center immediately.
National Poison Control Center telephone number: 800-222-1222
Go to our Zyban price comparison page where you can select your preferred online US pharmacy with the lowest Zyban prices, no prior prescription required.
Our featured US-based online pharmacies work with US-licensed doctors and pharmacists to provide you with your prescriptions through an online consultation.
If this is your first time ordering Zyban online, see our beginner’s guide , where the process of obtaining a prescription online and ordering your medication is explained.
Some companies charge less per pill but charge you separately for their consultation and pharmacy dispensing fees. Others include these fees into their final pricing.
RxPriceCheck's featured pharmacies give you a free online medical consultation with your order. Be sure to compare Zyban prices before buying.
Usually, the more tablets you buy, the cheaper the price per tablet.
See our Zyban price comparison page where you can select your preferred online US pharmacy with the lowest Zyban prices, no prior prescription required.
The generic name for Zyban is bupropion. This is the same active ingredient as in Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL that are used for depression.
Zyban is only available as a 150mg Sustained-Release tablet. Generic Bupropion Hydrochloride 150mg ER (extended release) is available but only Zyban is specifically FDA approved and indicated as an aid to stop smoking.
See our Zyban price comparison page , where you can select your preferred US online US pharmacy with the lowest Zyban prices, no prior prescription required.
Purchasing Zyban from non-US pharmacies can be potentially dangerous. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not recommend ordering medications online from pharmacies located outside the US, because it cannot guarantee the origin, quality or safety of the medication, or regulate the manufacturers. Therefore, it may be filled with other ingredients that may harm you, or it may be fake, sold as Zyban, but not contain the active ingredient bupropion.
RxPriceCheck.com only affiliates with online pharmacies that work with US licensed physicians and pharmacists, and sell brand Zyban approved by the FDA and manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. You can therefore choose from our list of online pharmacies with confidence.
See our Zyban price comparison page where you can select your preferred online US pharmacy with the lowest Zyban prices, no prior prescription required.
If this is your first time ordering Zyban online, see our beginner’s guide , where the process of obtaining a prescription online and ordering your medication is explained.
www.nci.nih.gov The National Cancer Institute (NCI) web site provides information on cancer, smoking risks, and the benefits of quitting. Its Cancer Information Service has specialists that you can call and talk to for free about quitting smoking. To access this service, call 1-800-422-6237 Monday through Friday from 9 AM until 4:30 PM.
www.lungusa.org The American Lung Association web site has information addressing smoking cessation, prevention, and the protection of nonsmokers' health. American Lung Association also has a program called Freedom From Smoking. To learn more about the cost of this program or to find out when meetings will be held in your area, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).
www.cancer.org The American Cancer Society Web site has lots of information about smoking and cessation programs. American Cancer Society also has the Fresh Start program designed to help people stop smoking. Call 1-800-227-2345 for information.
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