Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy
Bupropion Hydrochloride (Zyban) Use
PREPARATION:
Patients should stop smoking before beginning nicotine inhaler use.
DOSAGE:
Start dosing at 150 mg once daily. Increase on day 4 to 150 mg twice daily and maintain for duration of therapy.
Maximum dosage: 300 mg/day.
Dose tapering on discontinuation is not required.
ADMINISTRATION:
- Oral tablets swallowed whole.
- Patient should not chew, divide, or crush tablets.
- Combination treatment with Bupropion Hydrochloride and a nicotine transdermal system (NTS) may be used.
- Add NTS after patient reaches target quit date. Refer to the “nicotine patch” link for more information about NTS.
DURATION OF THERAPY:
- Duration of therapy is generally 7-12 weeks.
- If a patient has not made significant progress towards smoking abstinence by the seventh week of therapy, the manufacturer recommends discontinuation of therapy.
ADVERSE REACTIONS:
- Most common reactions: Insomnia and dry mouth.
- Most common reactions leading to discontinuation of therapy: nervous system disturbances-primarily tremor, and skin disorders-primarily rashes.
- Other side effects: arthralgia, dizziness, constipation, rash, nausea, pruritus, taste abnormalities.
PRECAUTIONS AND CONSTRAINDICATIONS: