In general, an addiction to smoking can be a very difficult one to overcome. Depending on how long you’ve smoked, how much you smoke, and genetic factors, you may find it extremely difficult to quit smoking. It is a well known fact the genetic factors are at play and determine how susceptible someone is to a nicotine addiction, and for this reason some people need more than their will power to quit smoking. There are medical aids to quit smoking that help address the body’s dependence on nicotine, leaving you to concentrate your will power on other aspects of the addiction: namely, the social associations you likely have with smoking.

For many years the standard medical stop-smoking aid was the nicotine patch, which is attached to the skin and releases a steady supply of nicotine to the bloodstream. Fairly recently, though, another approach has become popular: the use of the drug Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride.)

Zyban’s development as an anti-smoking aid is a curious one: it 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. Further research revealed that the drug was an effective stop-smoking aid, and it was approved for use as such in 1997 by the FDA.

Zyban works in a completely different way from the nicotine patch. 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.

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.

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. Make sure you talk to your doctor about the possible side effects of using Zyban to quit smoking: some common side effects include insomnia, dizziness, and dry mouth. In rarer cases, more serious side effects like seizures can occur. 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.

Copyright © Brandon C. Hall

Posted: February 15th, 2008 under zyban.
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If you’re looking for a way to quit smoking that has a proven success rate, you may be interested in a drug called Zyban. The main active ingredient of Zyban is bupropion hydrochloride, which is also known as Wellbutrin. Originally prescribed as an antidepressant, Wellbutrin exhibited a side effect of making patients lose interest in cigarettes. With the Wellbutrin results as a guide, Zyban was developed and has been available as a smoking treatment since 1998.

How Zyban Works

The reason Zyban is so effective is not clearly understood. It makes patients feel energized and gives them a sense of well-being, which makes it useful for helping people quit smoking.

Patients start taking Zyban while they are still smoking. The quit date is set for 7 days later, and the drug is continued for another 7 to 10 weeks after that quit date. Patients report minimal symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Studies have shown that success rates of Zyban are about twice that of placebos.

If the smoker hasn’t made significant improvements in his smoking habits by 10 weeks, it is unlikely that continued use of Zyban will help. Zyban treatment is like any other method for quitting smoking: in order to be effective the desire to quit has to come from within. Those who really don’t want to stop smoking will find ways to sabotage any quitting plan.

The most commonly reported side effects are insomnia and a dry mouth. People with a history of seizures, eating disorders, or cirrhosis of the liver should not take it.

Compared with Patches

1 of the most popular alternatives for nicotine withdrawal is the nicotine patch — a square patch that sticks to the skin and releases small doses of nicotine throughout the day. Patches allow the body to get the nicotine it craves without suffering the ill effects of smoking. People using patches may still feel the desire to smoke in certain situations because of associations with smoking that have nothing to do with nicotine. For example, some people associate smoking with going to a nightclub.

Patches are available in various strengths, so they can be used to wean the body gradually from its nicotine dependence. Those with a strong desire to quit smoking may find that nicotine substitutes free them to concentrate on the behavioral changes needed to rid themselves of dependency on tobacco.

Zyban does not provide nicotine to the body, it provides the smoker a feeling of well-being that allows him to give up the habit with relatively little difficulty. However, once Zyban treatment stops, the desire to smoke in certain situations may return.

Side Effects Of Patches

Patches can help eliminate the cravings associated with smoking, but they have to be used with some care. They can be worn throughout the day, but should be removed at night. Otherwise, they may cause insomnia or strange dreams.

The skin where the patch is applied may become red and itchy. These symptoms usually disappear within an hour after the patch is removed, but can cause discomfort during the day.

Both Zyban and nicotine substitutes are more effective when used in conjunction with some kind of counseling. A smoker must defeat both nicotine addiction and a series of smoking habits in order to ultimately join the ranks of the non-smoker.

Copyright © Ron King

Posted: February 14th, 2008 under zyban.
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One of the most important needs of the pharmaceutical industry is to design or develop a drug that would cure or considerably cut down nicotine craving. In other words, they need to develop a drug that would cure the problem of smoking. The FDA says smoking is the most preventable cause of death in America. Not only is it the cause of a long list of cancers, but it is also the cause of heart and lung diseases. The agency says it is committed to helping smokers find effective ways of giving up. According to an estimate, there are more than 48 million smokers in America and out of these 48 million; 45 million are ready to do anything to quit this habit of smoking. But problem is not this. Smokers hardly forget the pleasure, the tobacco provides them settling into brain receptors and triggering natural pleasure and feel-good endorphins. Here rises the main problem. Many people start this no-smoking practice but can’t continue it for too long. The problem with modern tobacco is that the other chemical, which includes toxins and carcinogens that impose huge health, risks on the smokers. Just like there are many brands of cigarettes there are many treatments to quit smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy is one of the most popular paths for many smoking quitters to take. One can choose from nicotine patches, gums and nasal sprays. Beyond that you can start look at prescription treatments like chantix and zyban - the two most popular pills to help you quit. Out of these two drugs chantix also known as varenicline is proving itself to be a milestone in the industry of anti-smoking drugs. The FDA has approved chantix (varenicline tartrate) tablets for the treatment of smoking cessation - to help smokers give up smoking. Chantix, which works on specific parts of the brain, helps people give up smoking in two ways. There are reasons why chantix has gained more popularity than zyban. According to information of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) chantix (varenicline) is four times as effective in helping a smoker give up cigarettes successfully. According to that report only, chantix is twice as effective as zyban (bupropion). Dr. Steven Galson, director of FDA’s center for drug evaluation and research, says nicotine addiction makes it very hard for smokers to give up. According to him chantix is a proven and effective treatment for smokers who want to quit smoking. The FDA approved this anti-smoking drug chantix in May 2006.

Basically smokers often feel a sense of coolness and respite when they smoke or light up a cigarette. Chantix doesn’t let them feel these sensations. Chantix also lessens the withdrawal indications, which are very rigorous for some quite often. Chantix works in a different way from nicotine-replacement therapies. In nicotine-replacement therapies, a small dose of nicotine is given with the motive to provide the smoker with this drug while the patient rise above the huge psychological and physical troubles that come while giving up smoking. The other medicine zyban weakens the reuptake of addiction-linked brain chemicals through neurons i.e. dopamanine and norepinephrine. Chantix makes the patient produce more dopamine, which helps in lowering the cravings - at the same time brain cell receptors that help perpetuate addiction are blocked.

Note: Chantix is prescription only medications. Do not take this medicine without discussing it with your family doctor or a qualified medical expert.

For the dosage of chantix, certain directions are provided which are to be followed prior to starting the usage of this medication. First of all, choose a quit date. Start taking chantix one week prior to the quitting date. It is pretty natural that one may smoke during the first week. It is recommended to take chantix after meal with 8 ounces of water. Only 1 white tablet is taken for the initial three days. Two white tablets are taken from days 4-7. One pill for the morning and one pill for the evening. On day 8 through treatment end, a blue tablet is taken twice a day. The blue tablet is a higher dosage than the white tablet, which is taken for the first 7 days of treatment. A typical course of chantix treatment lasts 12 weeks. Patients may continue for a further twelve weeks if they wish so. Chantix should not be prescribed to pregnant women or those who are planning to become pregnant, individuals less than 18 years of age, or anyone who is having kidney problems. Do inform doctor of any allergies you have or suspect you have.

Side effects of chantix include nausea, headache, vomiting sensation, gas, constipation, flatulence [farting], insomnia [problems in falling asleep], abnormal dreams and dysgeusia.

Because chantix got its approval only three months back that’s why it is not as popular as viagra or cialis among the buyers who prefer to buy drug through an online pharmacy. But this is for sure as the time passes, number of people buying zyban online will leave behind the number of people buying viagra or any other drug through web pharmacy.

You’re not alone when you’re trying to quit and neither are you short of treatments when chantix is there to help you end that nasty nicotine addiction once and for all.
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Posted: February 5th, 2008 under zyban.
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As most people who have tried to stop smoking know only too well, getting rid of this addictive behavior is not an easy process. Smoking is a compulsive addiction, and can be as powerful as alcohol or narcotic drug abuse. Smoking also involves a significant social factor. Hence, the impact of both, smoking in social circumstances such as with friends along with the addiction, together, pose a powerful challenge to anybody in their quest for smoking cessation.

As you probably are already aware, by smoking cigarettes you are providing your body regular doses of nicotine. The reason quitting smoking is so difficult is because your body gets dependent on nicotine. There are receptors in your brain that nicotine reacts with, which results in the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. This is what causes the positive feelings that you experience each time you light up and take a deep drag.

When you stop smoking, deprived of the nicotine, your brain receptors stop producing as much dopamine as it used to before. This slowing down of dopamine being released is what causes the typical withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation such as anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty in concentration, drowsiness, headache, and sometimes even anger.

Hence, it takes a fair amount of resolve to quit smoking, and stay quit. However, if you have seriously made up your mind to quit the habit, and are looking for ways to stop smoking, there are plenty of smoking cessation programs that can help you in your endeavor.

Preparative Strategies for Quitting Smoking

• Changing Behavioral Patterns: Apart from resolve, you need to go about it systematically, using strategies that will help you to succeed. Whether or not pharmacological agents are used, behavioral modification should be an integral part of your stop-smoking strategy. Behavioral modification involves changing the patterns of habit that act as cues to light up a cigarette. Often, you don’t even realize that you are following the dictates of such patterns of habit. These behavioral patterns could be as simple as taking a coffee break, some pleasurable moment, even a telephone call. Stress at work, delays in the traffic, boredom, and other such frustrations can also trigger off an urge to smoke. Hardcore smoking addicts need to light up as soon as they wake up, with the first drag of the day being the most pleasurable and necessary. So, you need to be aware of such patterns in your behavior and make conscious efforts not to allow them to trigger off the habit of lighting up.
• Decide on a Quitting Date: Decide consciously on a quitting date and stick to it. On that day, get rid of your cigarettes, and hide all the ashtrays as well as your lighter. See that you stay very busy on that day - take long walks, join an exercise program, go to the movies, and so on. Remind your friends and family that this is your quitting date and get them to support you over the rough spots that will inevitable occur in the first few days. If you use pharmacological medications as stop-smoking aids, remember, the strategies differ according to the drugs used. For instance, if you use a nicotine replacement method, you should start it on the day you quit. However, if you are prescribed bupropion, you should start it about two weeks before your quitting date.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smoking Cessation

Since dealing with the withdrawal symptoms is the hardest part of quitting smoking, one of the best ways to overcome it is to use nicotine replacement therapy. This includes a broad category of products such as gum, lozenges, patches, inhalers, and other ways of getting nicotine into the body without using tobacco products.

Nicotine replacement therapy works by providing small doses of nicotine that your body craves for, minus the harmful byproducts and gases of smoking. However, it not a sure fire way to cure smoking, since it just suppresses the craving of the body and does not treat the underlying psychological aspects of addiction to nicotine.

• Nicotine Patch: This is one of the most popular means of quitting smoking. The patch is place either on the side of the abdomen or on the upper part of the arm, and left there according to the time period recommended by the manufacturer. These patches have an infusion of nicotine, which is transmitted into the body through the skin over the period of time it is kept on. Although the user usually does not notice any dramatic reduction in their cravings, however the withdrawal symptoms do become more manageable. Like in the case of any type of medication, patches do have side effects. The patch causes irritation of the skin sometimes.
• Nicotine Gum: Similar to nicotine patches, nicotine gum also has nicotine in it, although minus the harmful cancer causing substances in cigarettes. It is chewed for a while and then held against the gum or cheek. A tingling sensation is often felt in the area where it is held, which, according to the manufacturers, is caused by the nicotine being transmitted into the body. One piece of gum can last for several hours.
• Nasal Spray and Inhaler: Nasal sprays can be used instead of patches or gum, or used along with other products that contain nicotine. Nicotine is delivered into the lungs in a form of mist, which is absorbed via the lung’s lining. Inhalers work in a similar way. Inhaled types of nicotine replacement therapy generally have a shorter duration compared to gum or patches.

Non-Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Non-nicotine replacement therapy can also be useful stop-smoking aids. These include bupropion, which basically is a neurotransmitter modifier, due to its dopamine-like characteristics. In other words, although drugs like Zyban, which contains bupropion, and Chantix, both of which are prescription drugs used for stopping smoking, do not provide a dose of nicotine, they stimulate the brain to release dopamine. This is what helps in reducing the craving for nicotine and thus lessen the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. In fact, Chantix even blocks the nicotine receptors in the brain. However, these drugs do have side effects. For example, Chantix can cause constipation, changes in dreaming, nausea, vomiting and/or gas. While Zyban can result in nausea, headache, changes in the appetite, confusion, and dizziness. And because Zyban is an antidepressant, some people may experience suicidal thoughts when the first use it.

Other Methods to Stop Smoking

Some of the other ways to stop smoking include hypnosis and acupuncture. Although the success rate is dependent on certain types of selected people.

• Hypnosis: Hypnosis is regarded as a breakthrough in the field of smoking cessation programs. You will be given CDs or audiotapes by a counselor, which contain anti-smoking messages. These CDs or tapes should be played all day as you go about your tasks, or even in the night while sleeping. The idea is to inculcate the idea about the harmful effects of smoking firmly in the subconscious mind, along with the importance of quitting immediately. Your propensity of being hypnotized will determine the success rate of this method.
• Acupuncture: This is an ancient method of Chinese healing involving inserting thin needles into various parts of the body to stimulate nerve endings. Amongst other things, this practice is said to help in releasing endorphins, which are also known as ‘feel good’ hormones, which encourage a feeling of well-being and happiness.

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Posted: February 5th, 2008 under zyban.
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