Zyban

Of all the drugs that are available to help smokers stop smoking, Zyban is one of the newest available drugs. Zyban is quite different from a lot of other forms of medication used to reduce smoking because it does not contain nicotine. This means that Zyban is not to be viewed as a nicotine replacement product. It will provide a different level of support to users, and may be effective for users who have previously struggled using nicotine replacement products.

Zyban was first proved as a means of stopping smoking way back in 1997, which means, for over a decade this form of medication has been helping people to stop smoking. Zyban is merely the trading name of bupropion, a drug that has been used for the treatment of sufferers of depression. This medication is still widely available today as an anti-depressant and many users swear by its qualities. It was users of bupropion that first brought attention to the qualities the drug had with regards to lowering the need to smoke.

Number of users undertaking anti-depressant medication informed their doctors that they noticed a reduction in their smoking cravings. Further research was carried out on these claims. After an extensive period of research, it was indeed shown that Zyban could be used as an effective way to help people give up smoking.

Most users of Zyban are given medication in pill form. The drug is taken twice a day and is currently only offered by doctors. At the moment, Zyban is not able to be bought over the counter. However, as research has shown the success of the product with regards to lowering the cravings for smoking, many doctors are all looking to offer it to their patients.

Users of Zyban will be given the treatment for a period of at least eight weeks. In some cases, the length of treatment can last up to twelve weeks.  This means that all users of this form of medication will be prescribed the drug for between two to three months. A person will start taking Zyban tablets one week before they attempt to give up smoking. This means, for one week the user will have nicotine and Zyban in their bodies at the same time. This crossover period occurs because it can take up to one week for Zyban levels to reach enough dosage to be effective. As the medication starts to work, the user will experience a reduction in their craving for cigarettes.

In the second week of treatment, a user will have to stop smoking. In addition to this, they will be required to continue taking medication for another seven to eleven weeks. Some people may find they are unable to stop smoking in the second week but they need to try to stop as soon as possible. If they are unable to stop soon after, it will become increasingly difficult to stop smoking and the chances of the program being a successful will reduce rapidly.

The medication should be taken once in the morning and once in the evening. At the very least there should be 8 hours between each dose of medication. The medication must always be taken with water and it is best to swallow it whole. Under no circumstances should Zyban be chewed, crushed or separated up into smaller pieces.

Although there is sufficient evidence to suggest that people undertaking a series of Zyban have a higher chance of getting rid of smoking, there are negatives attached to using this form of medication. There have been many clinical studies undertaken and some of the findings are not of a positive nature. Although craving for smoking is reduced, there is no noticeable reduction in withdrawal symptoms that a smoker may experience. It has also been shown that irritability, feelings of anger, a lack of concentration and increased restlessness may affect many users of Zyban. In general, the success rate for this form of medication is roughly between 15% and 25%, although one particular study returned a success rate that was twice this stated value.

With regards to longer term effects, studies have shown that users of Zyban who managed to give up smoking have been able to remain off nicotine in the long term. Generally speaking, just under one third of Zyban users were able to abstain from smoking after a year. This compares favorably to nicotine patches, where the long term effect is more akin to one in six.

As Zyban is still a fairly modern drug that is not long on the market, there are inevitably concerns over the long term health effects of the medication. This means that studies are still ongoing into the effects that can occur from regular use of this form of medication. Recently in the United Kingdom, controversy arose regarding Zyban users who were undertaking medication for a continued to period of time. A proportion of these users were said to have committed suicide or attempted suicide, had suffered from psychological disorders, had a noticeable increase in cardiovascular disease and there was alleged toxic builds up in their body.

These findings may have led to the situation where Zyban has been banned or placed under restriction in certain countries. The main restriction that has been placed on this medication is to ensure that users can not undertake repeated series of the medication. This closer monitoring of drug use should minimize some of the more negative effects that can come from using this form of medication.

If a user is already on medication to assist them with depression, they are advised not to use Zyban. The same advice applies to users who receive medication for treatments such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, as mixing drugs in this situation can cause an increased risk of people suffering convulsions. As with many drugs, you should always inform your doctor to ensure they do not prescribe drugs that may react badly with your current medicine.

Like most forms of medication, using Zyban may lead to side effects. Common side effects of using this medication are headaches, dry mouth and various forms of sleeping disorders. None of these side effects are too dangerous and it would usually recede within a number of weeks. Some of the other side effects can include stomach pains, disruption to regular bowel movements, coughing fits, a reduction in levels of concentration, nausea, itchiness and sore throats.

In the event that someone takes too much Zyban, they may notice symptoms including being confused, suffering from dizziness, finding that their vision is blurred, finding it that they are experiencing hallucinations, or the possibility of suffering a seizure. If any of these effects are noticed, a fierce it should immediately stop taking medication and visit with their doctor.

Although it seems there are many negative effects from using Zyban, there are many positives that should be focused on. The major positive of this drug is that it does not contain nicotine making the long term effects of stopping smoking a greater likelihood. It is extremely simple for people to use this form of medication and the results have been shown to be successful. For those users who do not like using nicotine gum or patches, it provides a worthwhile alternative to that form of medication.

Although Zyban is only meant to be offered by doctors by a prescription, an Internet search will show many places where it can be bought. Considering some of the side effects that have been noted with use of this medication, this may be a slightly worrying trend. If used properly and in line with suggested dosage levels, Zyban can be an effective tool in the battle against smoking. However, when used by people unaware or unwilling to follow recommended guidelines, there is a risk of overdosing.

Not only it is important for a user to stick to the agreed prescription level, they need to be aware that Zyban can negatively interact with other forms of medication. This means that if they are taking medication for other illnesses or ailments, they would be advised to find out what other drugs they can combine with their current medication.

The long term health risks of smoking are well documented and people are looking to find a new ways to help them give up smoking. There is no doubt that Zyban appears to be a highly successful alternative to nicotine gum and patches. The longer term findings indicate that this form of medication may be successful in keeping people away from smoking permanently. This great benefit may be deemed to be better than some of the minor negative side effects that can occur from using Zyban.

All of the plus points and negative points ensures that further research into anti smoking medication will continue but there is no doubt that more options exist for today’s smoker. The health benefits of reducing their smoking levels are a great incentive to seriously consider this form of medication.