Zyban - How it works

Zyban tablets contain the active ingredient bupropion hydrochloride, which is a medicine used to help people who are dependant on nicotine to give up smoking. It acts in the brain but is not the same as nicotine replacement therapy.

It is not fully understood how this medicine works to help people give up smoking, but it is known that bupropion affects neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are stored in nerve cells and are involved in transmitting messages between the nerve cells.

Neurotransmitters are released from nerve cells as a message is transmitted. Once the message has been transmitted, the nerve cells then reabsorb the neurotransmitter.

Bupropion prevents two of these neurotransmitters, noradrenaline and dopamine, from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells. Noradrenaline and dopamine are responsible for moderating mood and various other processes in the brain. It is thought that bupropion helps people to quit smoking by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and dopamine free to act in the brain.

Bupropion is used in combination with motivational support techniques. You should seek help and support as much as possible while giving up smoking, even while taking this medicine, as this will increase your chance of success.

For most patients, your health care professional will recommend that you stay on ZYBAN for 7 to 12 weeks to help support your long-term success. It may be necessary to stay on ZYBAN for a longer period, depending on your health care professional's recommendation. You've probably been smoking for some time, and your body has become accustomed to it.

ZYBAN helps reduce withdrawal symptoms as you remove cigarettes from your life. Because these symptoms may continue for many weeks, it's important to remain on ZYBAN for 7 to 12 weeks or the period your health care professional indicates.