How does Zyban work and is it safe?
It is not known exactly how Zyban (chemical name: bupropion hydrochloride) works as an aid to stopping smoking but it appears to interrupt the action of receptors in the brain linked to feelings of pleasure which are released when a person smokes. It is as effective as nicotine replacement therapy and studies suggest that it roughly doubles a smoker’s chance of quitting. Zyban is safe for most people. The main exceptions are people who are at risk of seizures (fits) or who have some types of liver disease. As Zyban is only available on prescription, your GP will be able to advise whether this is a suitable form of treatment for you. Since its release a number of deaths have been reported where there was a suspected adverse reaction to Zyban. However, in almost all cases the deaths resulted from an underlying health problem linked to smoking rather than from the drug itself.
