Zyban
is used in smoking cessation.
Zyban is the first nicotine-free
pill to help you quit smoking.
A prescription medicine available
only from your healthcare professional,
Zyban has helped many smokers,
even those who have smoked 10
years or more, put down their
cigarettes. No one has to know
you're using it, except you and
your doctor.
It is a mood elevator (antidepressant)
and is also used to treat depression.
This medication is sometimes prescribed
for other uses; ask your doctor
or pharmacist for more information.
Zyban Directions?
ZYBAN gets you ready
to put down your cigarettes. You start taking
ZYBAN and set a quit date to stop smoking
during the second week. Most people should
take ZYBAN for at least 7 to 12 weeks. When
you stop smoking, continue to take ZYBAN as
recommended by your healthcare professional.
One pill 2 times a day can help you break
free from smoking.
Zyban comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
You usually take it one to three times a day
and may be taken with or without food.
Do not crush, chew, or divide the tablets.
Follow the directions on your prescription
label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist
to explain any part you do not understand.
Take Zyban exactly as directed. Continue to
take Zyban even if you feel well. Do not stop
taking Zyban without talking to your doctor,
especially if you have taken large doses for
a long time. Your doctor probably will want
to decrease your dose gradually. This drug
must be taken regularly for a few weeks before
its full effect is felt.
Zyban Side Effects?
Side effects from
Zyban that are most common:
Drowsiness - weakness or tiredness - excitement
or anxiety - dry mouth - insomnia - nightmares
- change in appetite or weight.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms
are severe or do not go away:
Frequent urination - difficulty urinating
- constipation Blurred vision - change in
sex drive or ability - excessive sweating
- headaches.
If you experience any of the following symptoms,
call your doctor immediately:
Seizures or tremors - loss of coordination
- fever - severe skin rash - yellowing of
the skin or eyes - irregular heartbeat -
Some interactions between medications can
be more severe than others. Tell your doctor
and/or pharmacist what medications you are
currently taking, including any over-the-counter
products, vitamins, and herbals.
Zyban Warnings?
Zyban has been approved
as safe for most cases. However, Zyban may
cause seizures when taken in large doses.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever
had seizures, brain tumors, head injuries,
or an eating disorder or are taking anti-psychotics,
tranquilizers, or other antidepressants.
In addition, also tell your doctor if you
have or have ever had glaucoma, an enlarged
prostate, difficulty urinating, an overactive
thyroid gland, or liver, kidney, or heart
disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan
to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
If you become pregnant while taking Zyban,
call your doctor immediately.
If you are having surgery, including dental
surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you
are taking Zyban.
This drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive
a car or operate machinery until you know
how this drug affects you. Remember that alcohol
can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
Zyban Drug Interactions?
Tell your doctor and
pharmacist if you are allergic to Bupropion
or any other drugs.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other
prescription and nonprescription drugs you
are taking, or have taken in the last 2 weeks,
especially anticoagulants [warfarin (Coumadin)];
antihistamines; carbamazepine (Tegretol);
cimetidine (Tagamet); levodopa (Sinemet, Larodopa);
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); MAO inhibitors
[phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate)];
medication for high blood pressure, seizures,
asthma, colds, or allergies; methylphenidate
(Ritalin); ritonavir (Norvir); sedatives;
sleeping pills; thyroid medications; tranquilizers;
and vitamins.
Zyban Missed Dose?
If you take several
doses per day, take the missed dose as soon
as you remember it and take any remaining
doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals.
However, if it is almost time for the next
dose, skip the missed dose and continue your
regular dosing schedule.
If you take Zyban once a day at bedtime and
do not remember to take it until the next
morning, skip the missed dose. Do not take
a double dose to make up for a missed one.
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.
Anything Else I Should
Know About Zyban?
Although your health
insurance company may cover smoking cessation
therapy, many don't. Assuming a pack of cigarettes
costs .00, a year's worth of smoking one pack
a day costs ,095.00 ... 2 packs a day cost
,190.00. ZYBAN costs less than cigarettes
and is a far better investment in your future
than smoking is.
Zyban regulates certain brain chemicals--dopamine
and norepinephrine--to elevate mood. It is
believed that depression is caused by chemical
imbalances in the brain. Controlling these
chemical imbalances will help improve depressive
symptoms.
NOTE: The above
information is intended to supplement, not
substitute for, the expertise and judgment
of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare
professional. It should not be construed to
indicate that the use of the product is safe,
appropriate, or effective for you. Consult
your healthcare professional before taking
the product.
