Zyban was first developed as an
antidepressant. In fact,
bupropion, the active ingredient of Zyban, is available in several products approved for the treatment of
depression (
Wellbutrin®,
Wellbutrin SR®, and Wellbutrin XR
®). Zyban is part of a class of drugs known as norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, or NDRIs for short. NDRIs, such as Zyban, act on specific chemicals within the brain known as norepinephrine and dopamine. These are two of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.
As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release norepinephrine (or dopamine). The norepinephrine (or dopamine) enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough norepinephrine or dopamine reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell, and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any norepinephrine or dopamine that remains in the gap between cells. This is called "reuptake."
Zyban helps to block the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine so that more of each chemical remains in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the norepinephrine and dopamine a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell. It is thought that this action helps people to be more successful at quitting smoking.
Zyban is not approved for helping children or adolescents stop smoking, as it has not been studied in people under the age of 18. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Zyban in children or teens.
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Zyban for something other than quitting smoking. This is called an "
off-label" use. At this time, there are several off-label Zyban uses, including:
- Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Helping people lose weight.
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