Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Zyban

These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

Zyban & Alcohol [posted 11/19/98]
Question:   I was afraid to ask my doctor why I should not drink while taking zyban to quit smoking. Could someone tell me why? I assume it is because of the risk of seziures but I'm unsure. Thanks.

Answer: Correct, but, small intakes are probably ok.

Zyban [posted 10/15/98]
Question: I need info regarding the drug Zyban and its usage.

Answer: Zyban was initially sold as Wellbutrin. This is an antidepressant;but, was found during trials to have an effect on nicotine urges in some patients. Consequently, it has been repackaged under a different name for smoking cessation. Side effects are usually the limiting factor and tend to be headache and nausea. Constipation and dry mouth also occur. It does not appear to have marked long term effects;although in depressed patients some tend to have symptoms on stopping the medication.

Zyban [posted 8/11/98]
Question: I am taking amitriptyline to help me sleep. Will it still help me to sleep if I start taking Zyban to help me to quit smoking?

Answer: Yes, but I would not mix these two - two very different antidepressives. Use an antihistamine like Benadryl for the time that you are on Zyban.

Zyban Side Effects [posted 7/23/98]
Question: Are there any complications with Zyban and does it cause nausea? Also, does it disturb sleep, cause nightmares? What are the side effects?

Answer: Zyban was initially sold under the name Wellbutrin (still is), which is a drug used to treat depression. It was found to have a helpful effect in addictive withdrawal, especially nicotine. Common side effects include: Dry mouth, constipation, insomnia, dizziness. Nausea and nightmares can occur, but less commonly. If you are using it for nicotine withdrawal some of these may be nicotine withdrawal symptoms. These would be expected to clear after 4-5 days in most patients (nicotine that is). The zyban symptoms will persist as long as you take the drug.

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