Medical Questions » Smoking Questions » Question No. 935
| Question: | Can you tell me about the new anti-smoking drug that doctors are prescribing. Is it safe and effective? |
| Answer: | The drug you are referring to is bupropion which has the trade name Zyban. It aids cessation of smoking and counteracts nicotine addiction, and was introduced late in 2000. It is very effective in easing the craving for nicotine, but does-nothing to help ease the habit of doing something with your fingers and lips.
The dosage is one tablet a day for three to seven days, then increasing to one tablet twice a day when smoking is stopped.
It must not to be used in pregnancy, breast feeding and children, and must be used with caution in patients with any liver or kidney disease, head injury, brain tumour, alcoholism and diabetes. Patients using the drug should have their blood pressure checked regularly.
You must not take Zyban if you suffer from epilepsy or other condition causing seizures, a bipolar psychiatric disorder, eating disorder, or severe liver disease (eg. cirrhosis).
Common side effects include sleeplessness, headache, fever, dry mouth and nausea. Unusual side effects include diarrhoea or constipation, brain irritation, skin reaction and taste disorders. Rarely it may cause a convulsion.
Zyban may interact with other drugs including antipsychotics, antidepressants, theophylline, steroid tablets, benzodiazepines (eg. Valium), medications used to treat epilepsy and convulsions, and levodopa. It may also interact with alcohol and stimulants.
A prescription is required, and it is subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, but once only, as it is very expensive normally.
Overdosage may be serious. Drowsiness, hallucinations, seizures, coma and rarely death may occur.
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