Zyban and Wellbutrin
Zyban is a drug that is used for treating nicotine addiction. Although Zyban is not indicated for treatment of depression, it can be also used for treating a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. The reason for using Zyban as an antidepressant is that it contains the same active ingredient as the antidepressant medications such as Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL. Actually, Zyban and Wellbutrin belong to the same class of drugs that is called Bupropion. The difference between Zyban and Wellbutrin consists in the fact that Bupropion is marketed under the name Wellbutrin as an antidepressant and Zyban is marketed as the use to reduce withdrawal symptoms experienced in smoking cessation.
Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Nerves, in a process referred to as reuptake, may recycle released neurotransmitters. Bupropion works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine; an action that results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves.
The dosing of Bupropion should be limited, that is why Zyban is contraindicated in patients treated with Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, as well as Wellbutrin is contraindicated in patients treated with Zyban or any other medications that contain bupropion because the incidence of seizure is dose dependent. In other words, if you take Zyban and Wellbutrin simultaneously it may lead to overdose.
Overdose can result in the following side effects: agitation, dry mouth, insomnia, headache, nausea, constipation, tremor, high blood pressure (hypertension), feelings of a rapidly or forcefully beating heart (palpitations), increased appetite, indigestion, arthritis, fainting and others.
Thus, bupropion is sold under different brand names for different uses, that is why it is highly recommended not to use Zyban and Wellbutrin together. If you do take both of them, tell your doctor immediately. If you are already taking medicine for mental depression or to help you stop smoking, discuss this with your health care professional before taking bupropion. It is very important that you receive only one prescription for bupropion at a time.
You should talk with the doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Zyban or Wellbutrin because much depends on the individual state of health.