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The reason Zyban is effective is not clearly
understood. It seems to affect brain chemistry which makes patients feel
energized and gives them a sense of well-being. It is equally useful for
helping depressed and non-depressed patients 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. Patients report that symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are
minimized. Studies have shown that success rates of Zyban are about
twice that of placebos.
Although the manufacturer reports that Zyban can be used safely for long periods of
time, if the smoker hasn't made significant changes in his smoking
habits by the end of 10 weeks it is unlikely that continued use of Zyban
will be helpful. 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.
People taking Zyban may suffer from a
few side effects. The most commonly reported ones are insomnia and a dry
mouth. Those with a history of seizures, eating disorders, and cirrhosis
of the liver are advised not to take the drug.
Compared with
Patches:-
1) Zyban is one way to overcome nicotine withdrawal, but
there are other methods available. One of the most popular 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.
2) Zyban works a little bit differently than nicotine substitutes because
it is not providing nicotine to the body. Rather, the feeling of
well-being it provides, allows the smoker to give up the habit with
relatively little difficulty and is equally effective for behavioural
modification as it is for physical dependency on nicotine.
3) People using patches, on the other hand, may still feel the desire to
smoke in certain situations because of ingrained associations with
smoking. For example, some people associate smoking with going to the
pub -- this is simply a habit which must be overcome.
4) Patches
can help eliminate the cravings associated with smoking, but they have
to be used with a little bit of care. They can be worn throughout the
day, but should be removed at night. Otherwise, they may cause insomnia
or strange dreams.
Both Zyban and nicotine substitutes are more
effective when used in conjunction with some kind of counselling or
therapy. A smoker should also enlist the help of family and friends to
overcome his habit.
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