Smoking is a real problem of our time. Hundreds of millions of people around the world sit on the "nicotine needle". Smoking cessation is accompanied by a number of symptoms, which in terms of severity can be compared with abstinence in an alcoholic when refusing alcohol. Of course, other receptors are involved in the process of gaining dependence on nicotine, and the mechanism is also different, but the essence is the same. Reviews of "Zyban" report that this drug makes the process of quitting smoking easy. The drug is also prescribed as an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent.
Form and composition
The main active ingredient of Zyban is bupropion. This is a relatively new drug with anti-anxiety, antidepressant effects. It has become widespread as part of complex therapy for getting rid of nicotine and alcohol addiction.
The drug is available in the form of tablets. Belongs to the class of strictly prescription drugs. Alas, without a prescription from a doctor (there should be the seals of the medical organization and the doctor who prescribed it on paper)currently not available for purchase. Despite the fact that reviews of "Zyban" report that it is well tolerated and helps to get rid of bad habits, the drug belongs to the psychotropic class. Therefore, such strict rules for dispensing this drug from pharmacies have been established.
Indications for use
Instructions for use informs that the drug is active under the following conditions and pathologies:
- treatment of various kinds of depressive conditions - mild, moderate or severe;
- prevention of depressive-anxiety disorders;
- treatment of manifestations of depressive and anxiety disorders as part of complex therapy;
- neurotic conditions of various etiologies - another indication for taking the drug;
- as part of complex therapy for social phobia;
- obesity and erectile dysfunction after antipsychotic therapy;
- with exacerbation of seasonal affective disorders;
- withdrawal period for people with alcohol and nicotine addiction.
Contraindications for use
If there is at least one diagnosis from the list below, then you should not start taking the drug. This fact is confirmed by numerous reviews. Instructions for use for "Zyban" reports that the contraindications for taking the following:
- individual intolerance to bupropion;
- epilepsy, convulsive syndrome;
- sharpcancellation of the use of alcoholic beverages (exit from binge);
- cancellation of sedatives (tranquilizers) - should take about two weeks;
- concurrent therapy with other drugs containing bupropion;
- anorexia, bulimia or other eating disorders;
- chronic renal failure;
- childhood and adolescence;
- taking MAO inhibitor drugs;
- severe pathologies of liver functioning.
Zyban side effects
Usually the drug is well tolerated, especially when compared with antidepressants of other pharmacological groups (reviews also testify to this). The instruction to "Zyban" reports that against the background of taking the following side effects may develop:
- on the part of the central nervous system - severe drowsiness, lethargy, exacerbation of convulsive syndrome;
- from the CCC - arrhythmia, tachycardia, possibly increased blood pressure;
- from the gastrointestinal tract - nausea, loss of appetite (in some patients, on the contrary, there is an uncontrollable desire to eat more - therefore it is not advisable to prescribe the drug for bulimia);
- from the endocrine system, weight gain is possible, but unlike other antidepressants, Zyban does not affect the level of prolactin (this is possible only with the individual inclination of the patient), so weight gain occurs due to increased appetite.
Drug Interactions
Reviews about "Zyban" report thatthe drug is usually well tolerated. Unlike the famous drugs of the SSRI group, the start of taking Zyban is almost never accompanied by such disorders as tremors, insomnia, nausea and loss of appetite. all these symptoms are very smoothed, if not absent at all.
In the world of psychiatry, there is debate whether it is advisable to prescribe Zyban tablets alone as an independent remedy in severe depressive disorder. Reviews of patients with severe depressive or any other affective disorder report that the drug is especially effective in conjunction with antidepressants of other groups. It is rarely prescribed with TCAs, as with SSRIs. But many psychiatrists like to experiment with Mirtazapine and Venlafaxine, prescribing Zyban in parallel. Reviews about this combination are different, but in any case, taking such combinations of drugs should proceed exclusively under the supervision of the attending psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
Recommended dosages
The dosage can only be prescribed by a doctor after drawing up a clinical picture. It is strictly forbidden to prescribe the drug on your own, especially to combine it with other psychoactive substances. Instructions for use for "Zyban" reports that the following dosages are usually used: one tablet during the first week. If the drug is well tolerated, the dosage can be doubled from the second week. This will be the therapeutic dose. Conclusions should also be drawn from the reviews of"Zibane" of the patient. If there is drowsiness or other side effects, then the dosage should be reduced.
The tablet should not be chewed - just swallow with water. Taking the drug is not associated with food intake. The duration of therapy is 12 weeks, the advisability of further admission is determined by the attending physician.
Reviews about Zyban tablets from people with nicotine addiction
Nicotine addiction is a complex condition, because when you give up your "dope" the smoker experiences severe irritation, sometimes panic and aggression. It often happens that the symptoms manifest themselves at the physical level. These are headaches, heart rhythm disorders, nausea. Also, abstinence from smoking often contributes to the appearance of a "brutal" appetite. No wonder smokers complain that even if they give up cigarettes for a short time, they suffer from weight gain. This is quite predictable: one addiction is replaced by another (in this case, from food).
Reviews of smokers about "Zyban" are different. For some, the drug really helped to forget about the addiction for many years. And someone complains that they just spent money on the drug in vain - a couple of weeks after the cancellation, the person starts smoking again, and even more cigarettes than before the start of the intake. This phenomenon is explained simply: each person is individual, and dependence on nicotine also manifests itself in different ways for everyone.
What does a person experience whensmoking cessation
When quitting cigarettes, a heavy smoker experiences the following conditions:
- severe irritation, up to a psychotic state (he is ready to throw objects, pounce on loved ones, try to sublimate the absence of nicotine in the body somehow);
- unpleasant somatic conditions;
- ringing in the ears, feeling as if the head is being pulled together with tongs;
- anxiety and tearfulness increase;
- Women worry that they will "get fat" if they quit cigarettes;
- increased appetite (but with a strong will, appetite can be controlled), and some patients want to quit smoking so badly that they don't fear the side effect of gaining a few extra pounds;
- hypochondria on the rise - patient runs to doctors in an attempt to diagnose his body and identify the damage caused to him over the years of smoking;
- Insomnia or other sleep problems appear.
Zyban and withdrawal
All this set of symptoms is typical for those people who are heavy smokers. Of course, if the dependence is still small, then the refusal is easier, easier and faster, you just need to endure irritation for several days.
Reviews of Zyban smoking pills report that the antidepressant effect of the drug helps to get rid of such a severe withdrawal syndrome. There is no point in taking the drug if you are a smokerI am a beginner and don't feel as bad about canceling yet.
Testimonials from patients with depression and anxiety
"Zyban" (an analogue of which - "Bupropion", costs a little less, is also sold strictly by prescription) is actively prescribed in modern psychiatry, also with varying degrees of severity of depressive disorders. Patient reviews report that compared to other antidepressants, drugs with bupropion in the composition do not cause side effects.
Mood quickly levels off. There is no euphoria and stimulation of the psyche, as, for example, against the background of taking Prozac. There is no excruciating drowsiness and a "vegetable" state, as when taking drugs based on paroxetine. Medicines with bupropion as the main active ingredient really help people improve their psycho-emotional state, while with a minimum of side effects - you can not take sick leave, not go to the hospital, but carry out treatment in parallel with work.
Reviews on the effect on sleep
Drugs containing bupropion have virtually no effect on sleep. Reviews about "Zyban" of some smokers report that they experienced drowsiness in the first days of taking it, but then it passed.
The fact is that the nervous system of each person is individual. And in such a difficult period as the rejection of alcohol or drugs, sleep problems are quite natural. So it's hard to say what exactly is the cause in some cases.increased drowsiness - starting the drug or quitting nicotine.
Reviews on the compatibility of the drug with alcohol
Drugs with bupropion in the composition are also prescribed for alcohol withdrawal. It is optimal to start taking a couple of weeks after the last binge use. As a rule, tablets help to get rid of the manifestations of a mild withdrawal syndrome. If it is strong, more powerful drugs will be needed.
Reviews about "Zyban" of people with alcohol dependence report that while taking drugs, the phenomenon of "thrust" to ethyl alcohol is noticeably less. It is important not only to take pills, but also to work with a psychotherapist on your addiction, then you can really achieve a long-term remission.
