zyban is a nicotine-free quit-smoking aid. instead of nicotine, zyban contains the same active ingredient as the antidepressant medication wellbutrin. more than a third of the people who take zyban while participating in a support program are able to quit smoking for at least 1 month.

zyban can also prove helpful when people with conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema decide it\\\\\\\'s time to quit.

instead of nicotine, zyban contains the same active ingredient as the antidepressant medication wellbutrin.

it works by boosting the levels of several chemical messengers in the brain. with more of these chemicals at work, you experience a reduction in nicotine withdrawal symptoms and a weakening of the urge to smoke. more than a third of the people who take zyban while participating in a support program are able to quit smoking for at least 1 month.

treatment with zyban begins while you are still smoking. zyban needs about a week to reach an effective level in your body; so to improve your chance of success, you should not attempt to quit until the second week of treatment. set a firm date to quit smoking. if you are still smoking after that date, your odds of breaking the habit will be worse. you should keep taking zyban for 7 to 12 weeks.

you can use nicotine patches along with zyban. however, combining the two treatments can raise your blood pressure, so it\\\\\\\'s important to tell your doctor if you plan to use both. do not smoke while using a patch, because too much nicotine can cause serious side effects. participating in a counseling or support program will make success more likely. your doctor can recommend a local program for you.

swallow zyban tablets whole. do not chew, divide, or crush them. take them exactly as prescribed.

zyban dosage for adults: the usual starting dose is one 150-milligram tablet in the morning for the first 3 days. after that, take one 150-milligram tablet in the morning and another in the early evening. keep zyban doses at least 8 hours apart. the maximum recommended zyban dose is 300 milligrams daily. continue taking zyban for 7 to 12 weeks. your doctor may recommend continuing treatment for up to 6 months.

kidney and liver disease: your doctor may reduce the frequency of your doses to avoid high blood levels of zyban. if you have severe cirrhosis of the liver, you should take no more than 150 milligrams every *it other *ro day.

zyban dosage for children: the safety and efficacy of zyban have not been established in children under 18.

overdosage of zyban: information on zyban overdose is limited. however, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. if you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

symptoms of zyban overdose: may include, blurred vision, confusion, grogginess, jitteriness, light-headedness, nausea, seizure, sluggishness, visual hallucinations

if you miss a dose of zyban: do not take an extra tablet to \\\\\\\"catch up\\\\\\\" for the missed dose. skip the dose and take your next tablet at the regularly scheduled time.

storage instructions of zyban: store at room temperature in a tightly closed container. keep out of direct sunlight.

preparations of zyban: tablets: 150mg

if zyban is used with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. it is especially important to check with your doctor before combining zyban with the following -

alcohol, amantadine (symmetrel), antidepressants such as norpramin, pamelor, paxil, prozac, tofranil, and zoloft, beta blockers (heart and blood pressure medications) such as inderal, lopressor, and tenormin, carbamazepine (tegretol), cimetidine (tagamet), cyclophosphamide (cytoxan), heart-stabilizing drugs such as rythmol and tambocor, levodopa (dopar, larodopa, sinemet), major tranquilizers such as haldol, risperdal and thorazine, mao inhibitors such as the antidepressants nardil and parnate, orphenadrine (norflex), phenobarbital, phenytoin (dilantin), steroids such as prednisone and hydrocortisone, theophylline (theo-dur, theolair).

if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, zyban has not been tested in pregnant women. if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, do your best to quit smoking with the aid of counseling and support before turning to drug therapy. for the sake of the baby, you should avoid smoking or taking nicotine in any other form while pregnant.

zyban appears in breast milk and could affect a nursing infant. ask your doctor whether it will be better to discontinue the medication or to stop breastfeeding.

zyban side effects cannot be anticipated. if any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking zyban.

the most common side effects of zyban: dry mouth and sleeplessness. these are generally mild and usually disappear after a few weeks. if you have difficulty sleeping, avoid taking zyban close to bedtime and ask your doctor about reducing your dosage.

more common side effects of zyban: may include, abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, disturbed concentration, dizziness, joint pain, increased cough, itching, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, rash, sore throat.

less common side effects of zyban: may include abnormal thinking, allergic reaction, bronchitis, changes in taste, difficulty breathing, dry skin, fever, hives, hot flashes, increased appetite or loss of appetite, increased blood pressure, migraine, mouth ulcers, muscle pain, neck pain, nosebleed, ringing in the ears, shakiness, sinus inflammation, sleepiness, throbbing heartbeat.

rare side effects of zyban: chest pain, feeling of unhappiness, thirst, swelling of the face.