Zyban Zyban is a prescription medication designed to help smokers

							                 Zyban                                    Zyban as a quit
Zyban is a prescription medication designed to
                                                            treatment
help smokers quit more easily than without the
drug. It comes in a pill form. It does not         Zyban is a drug on prescription which assist
contain nicotine                                   smokers to give up their bad habit. These pills
                                                   don’t contain nicotine.
Zyban's history is interesting. Smokers who
happened to be users of the anti-depression        Zyban’s was designed on the basis of Wellbutrin
medication Wellbutrin (bupropion                   (bupropion hydrochloride) which is the anti-
hydrochloride) often reported a lessening in the   depression medication. Smokers, who took the
desire for cigarettes. Through further testing,    latest, noticed the decrease in impulse to
the drug was found to be effective in treating     smoke. After carefull testing, GlaxoSmithKline
the smoking addiction, and helping smokers         launched Zyban into a market as smoking-
quit. GlaxoSmithKline "repackaged"                 cessation medication.
Wellbutrin and marketed it as the smoking-
cessation drug Zyban.                              Zyban does not use the method of nicotine
                                                   administration. So, you don’t have to stop
Unlike nicotine patches or nicotine gum,           smoking after first intake to avoid overdose.
Zyban does not put more nicotine into your         After reaching release-date you continue
body. If you use the patches or gum, you           taking the medicine for a period of time.
should stop smoking so that you don't
"overdose" on nicotine. With Zyban, you            Giving up smoking with Zydan is easier as
continue to smoke when you first start taking      clinical testing shows. In comparison to
the medication, eventually reaching a quit-date,   placebo, therapy with Zydan lowers the
and taking the drug for a period of time after     abstinence symptoms, such as acrimony,
quitting.                                          frustration, difficulty concentrating,
                                                   restlessness, depression, etc.
Before taking Zyban, smokers want to know
what Zyban will do to make quitting easier.        However, Zyban has side-effects. The most
According to the results reported during           common of them are dryness of the mouth and
clinical trials, "treatment with ZYBAN reduced     insomnia. Also, there is a chance of seizure for
withdrawal symptoms compared to placebo.           some patients. So, it is necessary to consult a
Reductions on the following withdrawal             doctor before using Zyban.
symptoms were most pronounced: irritability,
frustration, or anger; anxiety; difficulty         As Zyban has potentially dangerous in side-
concentrating; restlessness; and depressed         effects, please find the following quotation of
mood or negative affect. Depending on the          Zyban web-site information:
study and the measure used, treatment with
ZYBAN showed evidence of reduction in
craving for cigarettes or urge to smoke            CONTRAINDICATIONS
compared to placebo."                              ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients with a
                                                   seizure disorder.
Zyban is not without side-effects. According       ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients treated
the the Zyban website, "The most common            with WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, or
side effects experienced with ZYBAN include        any other medications that contain bupropion
dry mouth and difficulty sleeping. There are       because the incidence of seizure is dose
other risks associated with the use of ZYBAN,      dependent.
so it is important to talk to your healthcare      ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients with a
professional to see whether ZYBAN is right         current or prior diagnosis of bulimia or
for you. There is a risk of seizure associated     anorexia
with ZYBAN, which is increased in certain          nervosa because of a higher incidence of
patients."                                         seizures noted in patients treated for bulimia
                                                   with the
Zyban has proven more effective than placebo immediate-release formulation of bupropion.
in clinical testing, with success rates ranging as ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients
high as 58% in one study. Most studies showed undergoing abrupt discontinuation of alcohol
success rates at somewhere between 15%-25%. or
Long-term success rates are obviously on the       sedatives (including benzodiazepines).
lower end, as smokers tend to relapse after        The concurrent administration of ZYBAN and
longer periods of time. Some studies included      a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor is
using Zyban in conjunction with nicotine           contraindicated. At least 14 days should elapse
patches.                                           between discontinuation of an MAO inhibitor
                                                   and
Because medications such as Zyban have             initiation of treatment with ZYBAN.
potential dangers and side-effects, the full text ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients who have
from the Zyban web-site quoted here:               shown an allergic response to bupropion or
                                                   the other ingredients that make up ZYBAN.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients with a
seizure disorder.                                  WARNINGS
ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients treated       Patients should be made aware that ZYBAN
with WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, or                 contains the same active ingredient found
any other medications that contain bupropion       in WELLBUTRIN and WELLBUTRIN SR used
because the incidence of seizure is dose           to treat depression, and that ZYBAN
dependent.                                         should not be used in combination with
ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients with a        WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, or any
current or prior diagnosis of bulimia or           other
anorexia                                           medications that contain bupropion.
nervosa because of a higher incidence of           Because the use of bupropion is associated
seizures noted in patients treated for bulimia     with a dose-dependent risk of seizures,
with the                                           clinicians should not prescribe doses over 300
immediate-release formulation of bupropion.        mg/day for smoking cessation. The risk of
ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients               seizures is also related to patient factors,
undergoing abrupt discontinuation of alcohol       clinical situation, and concurrent medications,
or                                                 which must be considered in selection of
sedatives (including benzodiazepines).             patients for therapy with ZYBAN. ZYBAN
The concurrent administration of ZYBAN and         should
a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor is             be discontinued and not restarted in patients
contraindicated. At least 14 days should elapse who experience a seizure while on treatment.
between discontinuation of an MAO inhibitor        • Dose: For smoking cessation, doses above
and                                                300 mg/day should not be used. The seizure
initiation of treatment with ZYBAN.                rate associated with doses of sustained-release
ZYBAN is contraindicated in patients who have bupropion up to 300 mg/day is
shown an allergic response to bupropion or         approximately 0.1% (1/1,000). This incidence
the other ingredients that make up ZYBAN.          was prospectively determined during an
                                                   8-week treatment exposure in approximately
                                                   3,100 depressed patients. Data for the
WARNINGS                                           immediate-release formulation of bupropion
Patients should be made aware that ZYBAN           revealed a seizure incidence of
contains the same active ingredient found          approximately 0.4% (4/1,000) in depressed
in WELLBUTRIN and WELLBUTRIN SR used patients treated at doses in a range of 300 to
to treat depression, and that ZYBAN                450 mg/day. In addition, the estimated seizure
should not be used in combination with            incidence increases almost tenfold
WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, or any                 between 450 and 600 mg/day.
other                                             • Patient factors: Predisposing factors that
medications that contain bupropion.               may increase the risk of seizure with
Because the use of bupropion is associated        bupropion use include history of head trauma
with a dose-dependent risk of seizures,           or prior seizure, central nervous system
clinicians should not prescribe doses over 300    (CNS) tumor, the presence of severe hepatic
mg/day for smoking cessation. The risk of         cirrhosis, and concomitant medications
seizures is also related to patient factors,      that lower seizure threshold.
clinical situation, and concurrent medications,   • Clinical situations: Circumstances associated
which must be considered in selection of          with an increased seizure risk include,
patients for therapy with ZYBAN. ZYBAN            among others, excessive use of alcohol or
should                                            sedatives (including benzodiazepines);
be discontinued and not restarted in patients     addiction to opiates, cocaine, or stimulants;
who experience a seizure while on treatment.      use of over-the-counter stimulants and
• Dose: For smoking cessation, doses above        anorectics; and diabetes treated with oral
300 mg/day should not be used. The seizure        hypoglycemics or insulin.
rate associated with doses of sustained-release   • Concomitant medications: Many medications
bupropion up to 300 mg/day is                     (e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants,
approximately 0.1% (1/1,000). This incidence      theophylline, systemic steroids) are known to
was prospectively determined during an            lower seizure threshold.
8-week treatment exposure in approximately        Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of
3,100 depressed patients. Data for the            Seizure: Retrospective analysis of clinical
immediate-release formulation of bupropion        experience gained during the development of
revealed a seizure incidence of                   bupropion suggests that the risk of seizure
approximately 0.4% (4/1,000) in depressed         may be minimized if
patients treated at doses in a range of 300 to    • the total daily dose of ZYBAN does not
450 mg/day. In addition, the estimated seizure    exceed 300 mg (the maximum recommended
incidence increases almost tenfold                dose for smoking cessation), and
between 450 and 600 mg/day.                       • the recommended daily dose for most patients
• Patient factors: Predisposing factors that      (300 mg/day) is administered in divided
may increase the risk of seizure with             doses (150 mg twice daily).
bupropion use include history of head trauma      • No single dose should exceed 150 mg to
or prior seizure, central nervous system          avoid high peak concentrations of bupropion
(CNS) tumor, the presence of severe hepatic       and/or its metabolites.
cirrhosis, and concomitant medications            ZYBAN should be administered with extreme
that lower seizure threshold.                     caution to patients with a history of
• Clinical situations: Circumstances associated   seizure, cranial trauma, or other
with an increased seizure risk include,           predisposition(s) toward seizure, or patients
among others, excessive use of alcohol or         treated with
sedatives (including benzodiazepines);            other agents (e.g., antipsychotics,
addiction to opiates, cocaine, or stimulants;     antidepressants, theophylline, systemic
use of over-the-counter stimulants and            steroids, etc.) that
anorectics; and diabetes treated with oral        lower seizure threshold.
hypoglycemics or insulin.                         Hepatic Impairment: ZYBAN should be used
• Concomitant medications: Many medications       with extreme caution in patients with severe
(e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants,           hepatic cirrhosis. In these patients a reduced
theophylline, systemic steroids) are known to     frequency of dosing is required, as peak
lower seizure threshold.                          bupropion levels are substantially increased
Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of          and accumulation is likely to occur in such
Seizure: Retrospective analysis of clinical       patients to a greater extent than usual. The
experience gained during the development of       dose should not exceed 150 mg every other day
bupropion suggests that the risk of seizure      in these patients (see CLINICAL
may be minimized if                              PHARMACOLOGY, PRECAUTIONS, and
• the total daily dose of ZYBAN does not         DOSAGE
exceed 300 mg (the maximum recommended           AND ADMINISTRATION).
dose for smoking cessation), and
• the recommended daily dose for most patients
(300 mg/day) is administered in divided
doses (150 mg twice daily).
• No single dose should exceed 150 mg to
avoid high peak concentrations of bupropion
and/or its metabolites.
ZYBAN should be administered with extreme
caution to patients with a history of
seizure, cranial trauma, or other
predisposition(s) toward seizure, or patients
treated with
other agents (e.g., antipsychotics,
antidepressants, theophylline, systemic
steroids, etc.) that
lower seizure threshold.
Hepatic Impairment: ZYBAN should be used
with extreme caution in patients with severe
hepatic cirrhosis. In these patients a reduced
frequency of dosing is required, as peak
bupropion levels are substantially increased
and accumulation is likely to occur in such
patients to a greater extent than usual. The
dose should not exceed 150 mg every other day
in these patients (see CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY, PRECAUTIONS, and
DOSAGE
AND ADMINISTRATION).