- What is it for
- How to take
- 1. Quit smoking
- 2. Treat depression
- Possible side effects
- Who should not take
Bupropion hydrochloride is a remedy indicated for people who want to stop smoking, also helping to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal syndrome and the desire to smoke. In addition, it can also be used to treat depression.
This medicine requires a prescription and is available under the brand name Zyban, from the GlaxoSmithKline laboratory and in generic form.
What is it for
Bupropion is a substance capable of reducing the desire to smoke in people with addiction to nicotine, because it interacts with two chemicals in the brain that are related to addiction and abstinence. It takes about a week for Zyban to start taking effect, which is the period the drug needs to reach the necessary levels in the body.
Because bupropion interacts with two chemicals in the brain related to depression, called norepinephrine and dopamine, it can also be used to treat depression.
How to take
The dosage varies depending on the purpose of the treatment:
1. Quit smoking
Zyban should start to be used while you are still smoking and a date should be set to stop smoking during the second week of treatment.
The normally recommended dose is:
- For the first three days, a 150 mg tablet, once daily.
- From the fourth day on, a 150 mg tablet, twice a day, at least 8 hours apart and never close to bedtime.
If progress is made after 7 weeks, the doctor may consider discontinuing treatment.
2. Treat depression
The usual recommended dose for most adults is 1 tablet of 150 mg per day, however, the doctor may increase the dose to 300 mg per day, if the depression does not improve after several weeks. Doses should be taken at least 8 hours apart, avoiding hours close to bedtime.
Possible side effects
The most common adverse reactions that occur with the use of bupropion hydrochloride are insomnia, headache, dry mouth and gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea and vomiting.
Less frequently, allergic reactions, loss of appetite, agitation, anxiety, depression, tremors, vertigo, changes in taste, difficulty concentrating, abdominal pain, constipation, rash, itching, vision disorders, sweating, fever and weakness.
Who should not take
This medication is contraindicated in people who are allergic to any component of the formula, who take other medications that contain bupropion or who have recently taken tranquilizers, sedatives, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors used in depression or Parkinson's disease.
In addition, it should also not be used by people under the age of 18, with epilepsy or other seizure disorders, with any eating disorder, frequent user of alcoholic beverages or who are trying to stop drinking or have recently stopped.
