Yes, there is a pill on the market prescribed to help smokers kick the habit.  It is called bupropian and goes by the brand names of Zyban and Wellbutrin.  Bupropian, under the name Wellbutrin, was approved in 1989 by the FDA for use as an antidepressant and is now available in a sustained release form (SR) through Zyban for smoking cessation.

Zyban is taken while you are still smoking.  You set a quit date that occurs sometime during the second week after starting the drug.  This gives Zyban time to develop therapeutic levels in your blood.  If you continue to smoke after the second week, your chances of quitting while on this therapy will be greatly diminished, so be firm about that quit date.  You should find, however, that your desire to smoke is greatly diminished and may even be absent altogether. 

 

You should stay on the medication for at least 7 to 12 weeks in order for it to be successful.  If you do not respect the fact that the near absence of cravings is due to Zyban’s ability to alleviate them, you may decide to come off the medication before you are ready.  You will then find yourself in the midst of nicotine withdrawal and will likely relapse.

Zyban is a nicotine-free smoking cessation aid. It works by boosting the levels of several chemical messengers in the brain. With more of these chemicals at work, you experience a reduction in nicotine withdrawal symptoms and a weakening of the urge to smoke. Over than a third of the people who take Zyban while participating in a support program are able to quit smoking for at least 1 month.  Zyban will not make you quit.  You must be committed and have a sincere desire to stop smoking.  You must be willing to follow the program through to the end.

There is an added advantage to using Zyban while quitting smoking.  The association between depression and smoking is well known. A history of major depression is more than twice as common in smokers compared to nonsmokers. If you have had a major depressive disorder, you will probably have a harder time trying to quit smoking and an increased likelihood of relapse.

 

Those who have suffered depression are probably going to have a greater intensity in withdrawal symptoms.  Likewise, quitting smoking is likely to bring back the depression.  The belief is that, in these cases, smoking had been used to attempt to alleviate the negative feelings associated with depression.  Even for other smokers, however, depression can be an issue while quitting smoking as it is a common symptom of nicotine withdrawal.  Since bupropian is an anti-depressant, using Zyban for smoking cessation may be like killing two birds with one stone.

Since the sustained release forms are used for smoking cessation, do not crush or chew the tablet.  Doing so will destroy the protective coating that allows the tablet to dissolve slowly in you stomach.  Side effects that may go away during treatment include restlessness, agitation, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, weight change, confusion, anorexia, anxiety or tremor.

 

If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Zyban may also cause manic episodes if you have bipolar manic depression. Avoid alcohol or drink only in moderation while on this Zyban.  Seizure is a risk with Zyban, and the risk increases if you use alcohol, sedatives, cocaine, over the counter stimulants or if you have a seizure disorder (like epilepsy), bulimia or anorexia, take more than the recommended amount, or take other medicines with the same active ingredient, such as Wellbutrin or Wellbutrin SR.   For most people, though, Zyban is a safe and effective aid in your attempt to quit smoking.