Zyban
® (
bupropion SR) is a prescription medicine used to help people stop smoking.
(Click Zyban Uses for more information on what the drug is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
Zyban is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
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 these substances 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.
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