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What special precautions should I follow?
Drinking of alcoholic beverages should be limited or avoided, if possible, while taking Zyban. This will help prevent seizures.
This medicine may cause some people to feel a false sense of we
ll-being, or to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerou
s if you are dizzy or are not alert and clearheaded.
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Overdose
Fast heartbeat; hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there); loss of consciousness ; nausea; seizures (convulsions) ; vomiting
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What is this Drug
Zyban is a pharmaceutical, prescription antidepressant which acts directly on the brain and other nerve cells. It is also used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder), Bipolar depression, chronic f
atigue syndrome, cocaine addiction, nicotine addiction, and lower back pain.
Zyban generally comes in 75mg and 100mg tablets. A sustained released form (Wellbutrin SR) comes in 100mg (blue),
150mg (purple), and 200mg (light pink) tablets. A new Wellbutrin XL comes in 150 & 300mg tablets (creamy white to pale yellow).
It has been associated with possible liver and kidney damage as
well as seizures in .4% of the population.
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Proper Use of This Medicine
Zyban comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken one to three times a day and may be taken with or without food. Do not crush, chew, or divide Wellbutrin SR or Zyban tablets. Follow the d
irections on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Zyban exactly as directed.
Continue to take Zyban even if you
feel well. Do not stop taking Zyban without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your doctor probably will want to decrease your dose gradually. This drug
must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.
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Other Medicines
When you are taking Zyban, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
- Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil
], amoxapine [e.g., Asendin], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], desipramine [e.g., Pertofrane], doxepin [e.g., Sinequan], imipramine [e.g., Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g., Aventyl], protriptyline [e.g.,
Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g., Surmontil]) or
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- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegi
line [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])¡X Do not take Zyban while you are taking or within 14 days of taking an MAO inhibitor
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Side Effects of This Medicine
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Zyban.
<
br> The most common side effects are:
Dry mouth and sleeplessness
These are generally mild and usually disappear after a few weeks. If you have difficulty sleeping, avoid taking Zyban close t
o bedtime and ask your doctor about reducing your dosage.
More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, disturbed concentration
, dizziness, joint pain, increased cough, itching, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, rash, sore throat
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