Drug Name

Zyban (Bupropion)

Drug Uses

Zyban is an antidepressant medication and can be indicated as an aid to smoking cessation treatment.

How Taken

Zyban comes as a tablet to take it orally. It is usually taken twice a day and may be taken with or without food. It is important to swallow Zyban Tablets whole. Do not chew, divide, or crush tablets.

Drug Class and Mechanism

Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters that are released by nerves are taken up again by the nerves that release them for reuse. (This is referred to as reuptake.) Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Bupropion is unrelated to other antidepressants. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, an action which results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Bupropion is unique in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect which is not shared by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs (e.g. paroxetine, Paxil; fluoxetine, Prozac; sertraline, Zoloft) or the tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs (e.g. amitriptyline, Elavil; imipramine, Tofranil; desipramine, Norpramin).

Missed Dose

If you forget to take a dose, do not take an extra tablet to catch up for the dose you forgot. Wait and take your next tablet at the regular time. Do not take more tablets than your doctor prescribed. This is important so you do not increase your chance of having a seizure.

Storage

Store Zyban at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Keep Zyban in a tightly closed container. Keep Zyban out of the reach of children.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not take Zyban if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days. Zyban is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take Zyban without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Zyban will be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take Zyban without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines, Zyban may cause side effects. Do not rely on this summary alone for information about side effects. Your doctor can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects that may be relevant to you. Hypertension (high blood pressure), in some cases severe, has been reported when taking Zyban alone and in combination with nicotine replacement therapy (for example a nicotine patch). The most common side effects include dry mouth and difficulty sleeping. These side effects are generally mild and often disappear after a few weeks. If you have difficulty sleeping, avoid taking your medicine too close to bedtime. The most common side effects that stopped taking Zyban during clinical studies were shakiness and skin rash. Stop taking Zyban and contact your doctor or health care professional if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as a rash, hives, or difficulty in breathing. It is not possible to predict whether a mild rash will develop into a more serious reaction. Therefore, if you experience a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around the eyes, or swelling of lips or tongue, tell a doctor immediately, since these symptoms may be the first signs of a serious reaction. Discuss any other troublesome side effects with your doctor.

More Information

• If you experience any of the following uncommon but serious side effects, stop taking bupropion and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • seizures; or
  • fast or irregular heartbeats.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take bupropion and talk to your doctor if you experience
  • headache;
  • insomnia;
  • dry mouth;
  • tremors, restlessness, agitation, or anxiety;
  • dizziness or drowsiness;
  • sweating;
  • skin rash;
  • ringing in the ears;
  • flulike symptoms such as aching muscles, fatigue, and discomfort;
  • frequent urination; or
  • weight loss or gain.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.