It is so easy to start and so hard to quit, isn’t it?

If you have decided to quit smoking, it is a good idea to take all measures that will guarantee success. The good news is that along with the traditional cold turkey techniques, you can get yourself a stop smoking medication to ease the cessation symptoms and help you quit smoking.

A good approach is to get the advise of your doctor first. Since he (or she) is aware of your medical condition, he will be able to prescribe you the best and the most effective stop smoking medication. Although most stop smoking medications seem harmless, they might be unsuitable for your physical condition.

A well known quit smoking pill is Zyban (Bupropion hydrochloride) – manufactured by the world’s leading pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline. Zyban was originally designed as an anti-depressant, and during clinical trials of the drug is was discovered that as a side effect, many smokers participating in the trails lost interest in cigarettes and found it very easy to quit. It was given FDA approval in 1984 though later on it was withdrawn from the market because of certain ill consequences related to its use such as risking suffering from seizures.

However, GlaxoSmithKline showed successfully that by reducing the amount of Zyban consumed the risk of suffering from seizures could be reduced to just an insignificant .4 percent. This led to the release once more of Zyban in the year 1989 and again it obtained FDA approval with recommended maximum dosage per day being about four hundred and fifty milligrams. It helps the withdrawal symptoms and suppresses the urge to smoke.

Zyban has the same effect as nicotine. Instead of supplying nicotine to the bloodstream, Zyban alters brain chemistry in such a way that the desire for smoking is greatly reduced – many people find that cigarettes simply become unappealing after taking the drug. At no point does Zyban supply or regulate nicotine in the bloodstream. It will fool your brain and your body will not experience the cessation symptoms in their full strength. Zyban as well as other similar stop smoking prescription drugs help the brain to produce or control the depletion of a dopamine that is a ‘feel-good’ chemical found in a person’s brain. This chemical, when produced by the brain, can lead to addiction to nicotine as smokers will notice an increased production of dopamine in their brains this in turn will make them crave more nicotine in order to maintain the ‘feel-good’ effect.

Zyban does not contain nicotine so it is suitable for people who cannot use nicotine medications or for the ones who tried nicotine stop smoking products with no success. It is also a highly recommended stop smoking medication as it prevents weight gain.

One reason why Zyban has become such a popular stop smoking prescription drug is that its use will not lead to experiencing sexual dysfunction; on the contrary, it can even be used to treat cases of sexual dysfunction though such usage has not been approved by the authorities.

As effective as Zyban is as a stop smoking prescription drug, it is not entirely hundred percent safe to use since some ill consequences of its intake have been noticed including damaging the liver and increasing blood pressure.

This stop smoking drug is not recommended for people who had or have epilepsy, eating disorder or are allergic to any of its substances. Zyban is not good for people who have drinking problems or have been using anti-depressant medications.

To work effectively, Zyban is usually taken a few weeks before you actually stop smoking. Like all anti-depressants, it takes time for its effects to manifest. Once you’ve been taking the drug for some time, you stop smoking, and if all goes well you’ll find the process much easier than an unaided attempt. In most cases, taking Zyban for up to twelve weeks should be enough. However, the length of the treatment period depends on your specific circumstances.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that Zyban is a prescription drug that alters brain chemistry – in fact researchers are not even exactly sure how it works, only that it does for many people. Naturally, you doctor will be consulted in your decision to take Zyban, and it is crucial that Zyban is not taken in combination with other drugs.

If you suffer a severe smoking addiction, your doctor may prescribe you more than one stop smoking medication. For example, a combination of Zyban and a nicotine patch or a gum usually gives good results. If you are using both Zyban and nicotine products you should not smoke.

Make sure you talk to your doctor about the possible side effects of using Zyban to quit smoking. Some people get seizures while taking this stop smoking drug. If something like this happens to you, stop the drug and contact your doctor. If you are combining Zyban with some nicotine stop smoking products you may experience high blood pressure problems. Some of the uncommon side effects of Zyban are delusions, hallucinations or even paranoia. While it is unlikely any of these to happen to you, if it happens call your doctor immediately.

The most common side effects are dry mouth and problems with sleep. These effects are mild and will disappear in a week or two.

You will need a prescription from your doctor in order to buy Zyban. Always consult your doctor before starting this or any stop smoking drug. He will be able to evaluate your medical condition and prescribe you the correct dosage.

You must also discuss with your doctor the situations in which Zyban should not be taken, like if you are abruptly stopping the use of alcohol, or have a history of seizures.

While Zyban should be approached with some caution, as long as it is properly discussed with your doctor, it can be a very effective aid in your battle to quit smoking.