Feedback on Zyban Side Effects and Usage – Page 5
About Zyban
If you’ve used Zyban, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.
Subj: Reaction to Zyban
Date: 1/26/2005
I have been on Zyban for one week. The first 5 days felt a heavyness on my chest every once in a while. Day 4 and 5 I hardly slept but felt awake in the morning. Then yesterday I broke out in hives 45 min after taking my 2nd pill, then proceeded to have a short anxiety attack. It was weird because in the past I have been on anti-depressants and never had this effect. I went to the ER and they gave me steroids and Benedryl. The hives are now gone. I slept last night because of the benedryl, but I woke up around 6am extremely awake. I have never been a morning person, it was very odd. Then after dropping my son off at school I couldn’t help myself from cleaning. I do like the fact that it not only makes me not crave cigarettes but also food.
My doctor advised me to stop taking it, but I want to quit smoking so bad. I have tried everything and nothing has ever worked like this with the cravings. So today I started cutting my pills in half and instead of taking 150, I take 75mg 2 times a day. So far today I am still hyper but have no hives or anxiety. I will probably only stay on it for 2-3 weeks to let the nicotine out of my body. God I hate cigarettes!!! I wish there was another way, but this is the only thing working for me right now. I do find that my hands feel naked. Like I need to be moving them all the time. I have not smoked in 2 days.
Melissa
AskDocWeb: Just to be clear about this, you are taking Zyban against the advice of your doctor.
Subj: Heart palpitations and Zyban
Date: 1/28/2005
I have been taking Zyban for 5 days now. My GP recommended to take one 150g pil for six days and then take two a day for 6 more weeks. On the first day I had a panic attack after I took the pill and found it difficult to sleep. When I was lying awake in bed with my eyes closed I had very lively flashes of images, it didn’t bother me but was strange. Nights after that I had no problem with sleeping. The last few days I felt a bit light headed, a bit anxious with heart palpitations and was feeling breathless. I don’t feel much need to smoke anymore though, and think I will finally be able to stop smoking. I decided not to increase my dose to two tablets a day but will continue with one tablet. I am going to stop on Monday which is in three days time and then I am planning to take one zyban a day for three weeks only. Zyban is not something I would like to take for a longer period of time.
E.
AskDocWeb: People who have heart palpitations while taking zyban are advised to discontinue use.
Subj: My recommendations
Date: 2/14/2005
I took Zyban for two weeks before the hives showed up along with a fever and extreme anxiety. I immediately suspected Zyban and stopped taking it. The hives come in waves and itch unbelievably. They appear in a new place each time. My hands hurt and itched at the same time. My throat was closing up and I couldn’t swallow. Prior to the appearance of the hives, I was yawning constantly. I took benadryl and went to the emergency room where I was given steroids (4 days worth) and watched for 5 hours.
Still not feeling well four days later, I went to my personal physician who told me to stop taking everything and come back the next day because my blood pressure was elevated. By 5:00 that afternoon, the hives were returning and I couldn’t swallow so I called my doctor. He gave me a six-day decreasing dose of prednisone and I began taking Claritin since it is a 24-hour dose as opposed to the 6-hour dose for Benadryl because I couldn’t remember when I had last taken it. It is now a little over two weeks since I first got the hives and I had another lesser attack over the weekend (two weeks after first attack) of shorter duration. I took Claritin to alleviate the symptoms. The hives are gone but I still have the sensation of pressure on the base of my throat (two days later).
I felt dazed and was very excitable — normally I’m very calm. I was barely able to function the first week after the hives appeared.
My recommendations: Do not take zyban without first consulting your personal physician about your sensitivity to this type of drug. Glaxo Smith Kline lists the possible side effects. Read them and discuss them with your doctor!
Vicki
Subj: Zyban and liver, kidney, heart problems?
Date: 2/17/2005
Is Zyban a substance that is addictive? Can a person take Zyban for 6 months on a regular basis or should it be taken for a maximum of 3 months? Will taking Zyban for a long period cause liver or kidney or heart problems?
Gary
AskDocWeb: Treatment is only for 7-12 weeks. Liver damage may occur if taken long-term.
Subj: Finally free
Date: 2/23/2005
Started zyban 3 wks ago. Cannot believe after 25 yrs I am finally free of smoking. So far only side effects are dry mouth. It’s been a week and 3 days. Still have thoughts but aren’t cravings its just habit “oh I’ll go and have a fag now” oh no I’m a non smoker. I think if you are determined you will succeed. The tablets seem to take away the need signal from your brain.
Julie
Subj: Zyban and extreme mood swings
Date: 2/24/2005
I used zyban for other addictive issues. And stop using suddenly. I experienced severe lows and extreme negative mood swings? I think this is interesting as I was told by a GP it is a supposed failed anti depressant.
Precocia
Subj: Worried about Zyban
Date: 2/26/2005
I started Zyban yesterday. I hope the itch factor doesn’t appear for me. I have that problem sometimes. After reading all these I am worried but will go for the trial period and hope for the best. Must be some it worked for.
Susan
AskDocWeb: I have personally used zyban and it does work. Some have recommended using only one pill in the early morning because the second pill may cause you to lose sleep.
Subj: On Zyban, feel awful
Date: 3/7/2005
This is my 5th day on ZYBAN and I feel awful! I am using it to try and stop taking the nicotine lozenges as I am now addicted to those! I feel numb, my equilibrium seems off and I cannot concentrate at all.. I called my Doc.. awaiting a call back but I think I will stop the pills today.. I just want to feel like “me” again
Julie
Subj: 3 weeks on Zyban
Date: 3/8/2005
Been taking for three weeks. Usual side effects at first – fast heartbeat, feeling speedy, spaced out, constipated, trembling, couldn’t sleep, weird mood, horrible anxiety…..these passed after the first week for the most part. Then felt allot better with more energy also lost seven pounds in the first week. Last night I started itching terribly. After scratching I had small welps (like mosquito bites) come up on my skin where I scratched. After I made myself not scratch the places would go away. I am still itching. Not intense If I keep myself from scratching but all over. I LOVE this medication and do not want to stop taking it. Will the itch go away. My eyes are also itching here and there. The hardest not to rub. I took it again this morning and hope that it will soon pass. Please say that some do get past the itching. I feel better than I have in years. I am on no other medications at this time besides zyban.
Lana
AskDocWeb: After three weeks of this, your symptoms are not likely to change. You should talk to your doctor who will probably tell you to discontinue use and try the patch instead.
Subj: Zyban working
Date: 3/8/2005
Have been on Zyban for 6 weeks. 150mg for the first 3 days then 300mg per day after that. Had my last smoke 10 days in and started 21mg 24hr patch at the same time as I dropped the smokes. Dropped down to 14mg patch 7 days later, then 7mg the week after that. Used last patch 6 days ago so now it’s just me and the Zyban. Have had a few sleepless nights but not too bad. Second week in started to feel odd (like I just drove over some kids pet). Not sure if it was the Zyban or the grief of giving up the smokes. Have been a little vague but not a big problem. Only thing that is a problem is I have taken 3 pills a day several times due to forgetting that I have already taken one. Nothing happened just got a little fuzzy for a few hours. Have not had any cravings I can’t handle. Once this pack of Zyban is gone I don’t think I will need any more. The combo of the Zyban and the patches plus the quick step down in nicotine levels worked well for me – didn’t see the point in dragging it out. Hope it works long term – time will tell. Good Luck to you all!
John
Subj: Now a non-smoker
Date: 3/13/2005
I started taking Zyban 6 weeks ago and haven’t had a cigarette for 5 weeks. Apart from the dry mouth at first I have had no other side effects. I only take 1 tablet a day now. Sometimes I still crave a cigarette but I am now a non smoker and intend to stay that way after 20 years. I couldn’t have done it without zyban.
S
AskDocWeb: Congratulations, hats off to you!
Subj: Had to quit Zyban
Date: 3/23/2005
Hi, I have been using Zyban for 11 days to assist me in to quit smoking. The first week was ok, but I have since then started to experience a severe reaction, such as blurred vision, extreme drowsiness, numb face, chest and muscle pain.
This product have greatly assisted me to quit and I have been without a cigarette for 2 days. A pity that I have to let go of it because of the side effects.
Jacques
AskDocWeb: You might have better luck with the patch, or the new soft nicotine gum available now.
Subj: Zyban is a savior!!!
Date: 3/25/2005
I’ve smoked for over 10yrs now and have tried everything… patch, gum, inhaler, natural remedies, nothing helped. My Doc prescribed zyban and it’s been wonderful. No side effects that everyone’s been complaining about, just a great sense of well being WITHOUT THE CIGARETTES. I took 1 day for the first wk and increased to 2 a day. Its the best thing I did and encourage anyone to at least give it a shot.
Rick
AskDocWeb: Congratulations, and thank you for letting us know.
Subj: Risks to quitting
Date: 3/28/2005
My husband has decided to quit smoking. He has started the first week of the prescription. He does not intend to give up his 3-5 vodka martinis each night. What kind of risk is he taking?
Barbara
AskDocWeb: At the least, there is a serious risk of seizures and liver damage. You need to know that alcohol is a depressant and Zyban is an antidepressant. Mixing depressants and antidepressants can result in death. The manufacturer specifically states: “Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.”
Subj: Going crazy
Date: 3/31/2005
I have been on zyban for 3weeks and my mind is going crazy. I have became very short minded. I have been having crazy dreams and night chills. I have been crying for no reason and shacking really bad. It’s ruining my relationship with my boyfriend and he thinks I’m going crazy. I have never felt different I’m not me and acting like the world in looking down on me. And I’m afraid of what will it do to me mentally
Tiffany
AskDocWeb: Others have had to discontinue use of zyban in order to get back to normal. It does NOT work for everyone. Read more feedback
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