Zyban is a prescription medication designed to help smokers quit more easily than without the drug. It comes in a pill form. It does not contain nicotine
Zyban’s history is interesting. Smokers who happened to be users of the anti-depression medication Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) often reported a lessening in the desire for cigarettes. Through further testing, the drug was found to be effective in treating the smoking addiction, and helping smokers quit. GlaxoSmithKline “repackaged” Wellbutrin and marketed it as the smoking-cessation drug Zyban.
Unlike nicotine patches or nicotine gum, Zyban does not put more nicotine into your body. If you use the patches or gum, you should stop smoking so that you don’t “overdose” on nicotine. With Zyban, you continue to smoke when you first start taking the medication, eventually reaching a quit-date, and taking the drug for a period of time after quitting.
Before taking Zyban, smokers want to know what Zyban will do to make quitting easier. According to the results reported during clinical trials, “treatment with ZYBAN reduced withdrawal symptoms compared to placebo. Reductions on the following withdrawal symptoms were most pronounced: irritability, frustration, or anger; anxiety; difficulty concentrating; restlessness; and depressed mood or negative affect. Depending on the study and the measure used, treatment with ZYBAN showed evidence of reduction in craving for cigarettes or urge to smoke compared to placebo.”
Zyban is not without side-effects. According the the Zyban website, “The most common side effects experienced with ZYBAN include dry mouth and difficulty sleeping. There are other risks associated with the use of ZYBAN, so it is important to talk to your healthcare professional to see whether ZYBAN is right for you. There is a risk of seizure associated with ZYBAN, which is increased in certain patients.”
Zyban has proven more effective than placebo in clinical testing, with success rates ranging as high as 58% in one study. Most studies showed success rates at somewhere between 15%-25%. Long-term success rates are obviously on the lower end, as smokers tend to relapse after longer periods of time. Some studies included using Zyban in conjunction with nicotine patches.
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