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ZYBAN
ZYBAN ONLINE
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine
must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision
you and your doctor will make. For bupropion, the following should
be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to bupropion. Also tell your
health care professional if you are allergic to any other
substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in
pregnant women. However, bupropion has not been reported to cause
birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding—Bupropion passes into breast
milk. Because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies, use
of bupropion is not recommended during breast-feeding.
Children—This medicine has been tested in a
very small number of patients 6 to 16 years of age and has not
been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children
than it does in adults. More testing is needed to decide whether
bupropion is safe and effective for use in children.
Older adults—This medicine has been tested
in a limited number of patients 60 years of age and older and has
not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in
older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines
should not be used together at all, in other cases two different
medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.
In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other
precautions may be necessary. When you are taking bupropion, it is
especially important that your health care professional know if
you are taking any of the following:
 | Alcohol or
| Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) or
| Corticosteriods(cortisone-like medicine) or
| Fluoxetine (e.g., Prozac) or
| Lithium (e.g., Lithane) or
| Maprotiline (e.g., Ludiomil) or
| Theophylline (e.g., Somophyllin-T) or
| Trazodone (e.g., Desyrel) or
| Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil],
amoxapine [e.g., Asendin], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil],
desipramine [e.g., Pertofrane], doxepin [e.g., Sinequan],
imipramine [e.g., Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g., Aventyl],
protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g., Surmontil])
or
| Ritonavir (e.g., Norvir)—Using these medicines with
bupropion may increase the risk of seizures |
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| Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid
[e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine
[e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine
[e.g., Parnate])— Do not take bupropion while you are
taking or within 14 days of taking an MAO inhibitor or you
may increase the chance of serious side effects; at least 14
days should be allowed between stopping treatment with an MAO
inhibitor and starting treatment with bupropion |
Proper Use of This Medicine
Use bupropion only as directed by your doctor. Do not
use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a
longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the
chance of side effects.
For patients taking the prompt-release tablet form of this
medicine
| Take doses at least 4 hours apart to decrease the chance of
seizures. |
For patients taking the extended-release tablet form of
this medicine
| Take doses at least 8 hours apart to decrease the chance of
seizures.
| Swallow tablets whole. Do not crush, break, or chew them. |
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To lessen stomach upset, this medicine may be taken with food,
unless your doctor has told you to take it on an empty stomach.
For patients taking this medicine to help stop smoking
| Start taking bupropion 1 week before you plan to stop
smoking. A date in the second week that you are taking
bupropion should be chosen as the target date on which to stop
smoking.
| While you are taking bupropion it is important to
participate in a support program to help you stop smoking, as
recommended by your doctor. |
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For patients taking this medicine for mental depression
| Usually this medicine must be taken for several weeks before
you feel better. Your doctor should check your progress at
regular visits.
| You will probably need to keep taking bupropion for at least
6 months to help prevent the return of the depression. |
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Dosing—
The dose of bupropion will be different for different patients.
Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
The following information includes only the average doses of
bupropion. If your dose is different, do not change it
unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of
the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the
time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the
medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking
bupropion.
| For oral extended-release dosage form (tablets):
| For mental depression:
| Adults—At first, 150 milligrams (mg) once a day in
the morning. Your doctor may increase your dose as
needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 200
mg two times a day.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| To help you stop smoking:
| Adults—At first, 150 mg once a day. Your doctor
may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose
usually is not more than 150 mg two times a day.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| For oral prompt-release dosage form (tablets):
| For mental depression:
| Adults—At first, 100 mg two times a day. Your
doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the
dose usually is not more than 150 mg three times a
day.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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Missed dose—
If you are taking the extended-release or the prompt-release
form of this medicine and you miss a dose, skip the missed dose
and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
| Keep out of the reach of children.
| Store away from heat and direct light.
| Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in
other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to
break down.
| Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of
children. |
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Precautions While Using This Medicine
Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits,
especially during the first few months of treatment with this
medicine. The amount of bupropion you take may have to be changed
often to meet the needs of your condition and to help avoid
unwanted effects.
Do not take bupropion within 14 days of taking an MAO
inhibitor.
Bupropion is sold under different brand names for different
uses. If you are already taking medicine for mental depression or
to help you stop smoking, discuss this with your health care
professional before taking bupropion. It is very important
that you receive only one prescription for bupropion at a time.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages should be limited or avoided,
if possible, while taking bupropion. This will help prevent
seizures.
This medicine may cause some people to feel a false sense of
well-being, or to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they
are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this
medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that
could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert and
clearheaded.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some
unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may
occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the
following side effects occur:
| More common
| Agitation; anxiety |
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| Less common
| Buzzing or ringing in ears; headache (severe);
skin rash, hives, or itching |
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| Rare
| Confusion; extreme distrust; fainting;
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts;
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that
are not there); seizures (convulsions), especially
with higher doses; trouble in concentrating |
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| Symptoms of overdose--may be more severe than side
effects seen at regular doses, or two or more may occur
together
| Fast heartbeat; hallucinations (seeing, hearing,
or feeling things that are not there); loss of
consciousness ; nausea; seizures (convulsions)
; vomiting |
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Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical
attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your
body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if
any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
| More common
| Abdominal pain; constipation; decrease in
appetite; dizziness; dryness of mouth;
increased sweating ; nausea or vomiting;
trembling or shaking; trouble in sleeping;
weight loss (unusual) |
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| Less common
| Blurred vision; change in sense of taste ;
drowsiness; feeling of fast or irregular heartbeat;
frequent need to urinate ; muscle pain; sore
throat ; unusual feeling of well-being |
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Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some
patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
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