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What Is Zyban?

Zyban is a prescription drug that was originally designed to be an antidepressant but has been found to be effective in helping individuals stop smoking by reducing the withdrawal effects from nicotine.

  1. History

    • Invented in 1969 by Mariman Mehta of Burroughs Wellcome, a company now named GlaxoSmith Kline, Zyban was patented in 1974 and put on the market after U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval late in 1985 under the name Wellbutrin. But there were many instances of seizures associated with Zyban at the recommended dosages it was prescribed at. It was reintroduced to the market in 1989, but with maximum dosage guidelines. Originally used as an antidepressant, in 1996 it was renamed Zyban after studies proved it a help to those who wished to stop smoking.

    Time Frame

    • If you are planning on quitting smoking, begin taking Zyban while still smoking. It will take Zyban about a week to build up to such a level in your body that it becomes effective. During the second week of use, you can implement your plan to cease smoking. You need to set a stop-smoking date and stick to it, and keep track of when you started on Zyban.

    Considerations

    • Zyban has mostly mild side effects, but one that can be severe--the drug has been known to precipitate seizures. The milder side effects of Zyban are dry mouth, nausea, insomnia and sweating.

    Warning

    • Zyban has been seen to cause seizures in approximately 1 in 1,000 individuals. Anyone prone to seizures, epilepsy or other seizure-related disorders should not take Zyban. If you are using any other drug with Zyban's active ingredient, bupropion, you should avoid Zypan, as the increased level of bupropion in your bloodstream can lead to seizures. Nicotine patches can be used with Zypan, but there is always the risk of high blood pressure. If you have eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, you should not take Zyban.

    Benefits

    • Zyban was the first smoking cessation aid that came in tablet form. With extensive studies showing the harmful effects of smoking, Zyban can cut dependency on nicotine by boosting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, thereby possibly adding many years to people's lives that might otherwise be cut short by smoking.

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