Wellbeing

Originally used as an antidepressant, the pill Zyban has been available to help quit smoking since 1997. Zyban is available by prescription only and contains the active ingredient Bupropion hydrochloride. Zyban is also known as Wellbutrin - the name used when it is sold as an antidepressant.

The smoker starts using Zyban about one week before quiting smoking an the treatment continues on average for another 7 to 12 weeks.

Zyban has been known to cause some side effects, some of which can be severe. The most common side effects include: skin irritations, psychological disturbances, insomnia, dry mouth and dizziness.

It is not known how Zyban acts to help stop smoking though it is known that the drug causes subttle changes in the brain's chemistry.  What is known is that for some people, it is tremendously effective.  The allure of smoking is reduced to the point where they are able to combat the phyiscal addition to nicotine.  IN some people however, it has no effect at all and there is no way to find out if it will work without first trying it.