Zyban

What is Zyban?
Zyban is a non-nicotine treatment. It comes in tablet form and costs the charge of an NHS prescription. You will need to see your GP before you can be prescribed Zyban.

How does Zyban work?
Zyban works in the brain to help break the addiction to nicotine by modifying two neurotransmitters involved in nicotine addiction and withdrawal. It is claimed that Zyban reduces your urge to smoke and helps to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms you may experience when stopping smoking. While Zyban can be a very effective aid to stopping smoking, it is also important to work on the behavioural and psychological aspects of the habit when using Zyban to stop smoking.

Is Zyban available in Cambridgeshire?
Zyban is available in Cambridgeshire to those people who are medically assessed by a GP and deemed a suitable candidate. It is not suitable for clients under the age of 18 or pregnant or nursing women. Zyban is not recommended for people who have specific medical conditions which is why an appointment with the GP is essential.

How is the Zyban taken and what is the recommended dose?
• It is taken orally. 
• For the first 6 days the dose is 150mg once a day.
• From day 7 until the end of the treatment, the dose is 150 mg twice a day to be taken 8 hours apart
• A course of treatment is usually 8 weeks.
• The quit date is usually on day 7 or 8 after you start taking Zyban.

Zyban is taken for an eight-week treatment course and works best if used in conjunction with support from a smoking cessation service, such as Camquit.

Zyban Side Effects
Clients may experience adverse effects when using Zyban to stop smoking and therefore should be regularly monitored by a stop smoking advisor, GP or practice nurse.
Side effects that have been reported to date include the following:
• Insomina
• Dry mouth
• Skin Rashes
• Trembling
• Headaches
• Sleep disturbances and atypical dreams
• Dizziness