h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am shortly going to try Zyban in combination with a free smoking cessation clinic (run by Camden & Islington Health Authority). Has anybody had any experience with Zyban, and any particular views on it - its effectiveness, side-effects etc. ?

I do not know anything about it.
I am sure someone will come along that does. There is a stop smoking forum and entry around here. Maybe you are in it,I did not notice where this question was placed.

If you want links I can come back with them.
I keep them on my page for my next inspired moment to quit.

Good Luck to you !

A293401 This is it Someone there will know.

Already in that forum! Though thanks for your replies.

I wish the name of the forum appeared when you are on the reply page!

I see it plain as day on this thread page!

A long time since the original was posted, but I think this might be useful to anyone thinking of doing the Zyban programme.

I started with Zyban last year, and stayed on it for a total of 3 months. I remained smoke (and craving) free for six months, until a particularly bad breakup caused me to succumb again, out of pure sadness.

I'm not sure how it works in the UK, but I know that in South Africa there is a large support programme associated with the drug, so you actually get phonecalls to see how you're getting along etc...
I obtained my Zyban off the black market, as it was a lot cheaper, so I didn't have the benefit of the support programme.

You initially start taking a double dose of the drug for about a week. It is stressed in the manual that you should continue smoking as normal while you're starting off. You then set yourself a 'quit date' from between 7 and 10 days after starting the medication.

This is where you first realise how potent this drug is. In my personal experience, by the time I reached my quit date, I was literally forcing myself to light up. My 20-a-day habit had turned into a 5-a-day hell. I hated the taste of the things, but continued smoking till my quit date so as to keep myself disciplined.

The short of it is that 10 days after starting Zyban, I was on one pill a day, and had absolutely NO urge to smoke. It was as if my brain had no idea what nicotene was anymore. It was stunning. I actually tested my resolve by lighting up about two weeks later, and almost threw up i got so nauseous...

When I stopped my run of the drug it stayed the same: cigarettes just didn't do anything for me anymore, and I had no need for them.

Of course, as with most stories, this one isn't all good news.
However you decide to look at it, Zyban is still an antidepressant and a powerful drug, with similarly powerful side effects. Amongst the lesser were:

Insomnia
Dry Mouth
Paranoia (nothing debilitating though)

The other two side effects I shal discuss in a bit more detail, as their effects are more profound.
The first was the aggression. I am normally a very peaceful person, a 'lover not a fighter' type, if you will.
Zyban made me hell to live with (as my then-girlfriend), as I was prone to violent (and uncontrollable) outbursts. Though I didn't actually cause anyone any harm, it could've been much worst had I not had the loving environment I was in.
The second large side effect I am yet to find a name for. I've spoken to a couple of doctors that say it's called 'dissociation', but relevant searches have not come up with any more concrete names.
The idea is that you periodically lose your spatial awareness. It's difficult to describe as it is not something that anyone would ever experience normally.
Imagine a feeling where you 'forget' where your arms are. You can see them, and you can control them as you always do, but it is as if your brain has 'forgotten' about them.
It first happened to me when I was driving, and let me tell you that it was not a pleasant experience. I could feel my arms, but somehow my brain had disconnected them.

As a result of this I didn't really drive during my entire treatment following this incident, and I regularly 'lost' my arms

The symptoms lasted for about 3 weeks after I stopped taking the pills, and everything returned to normal, except for the fact that I was smoke-free.

For all the nasty side-effects, I still feel it was worth it, even though I couldn't keep it up.

Hope this helps