What are Zyban and Champix? - A Guide to Stop Smoking

These are two prescription-only medicines for stopping smoking.

Zyban is the brand name of the drug Bupropion which relieves nicotine withdrawal symptoms and reduces your dependency. In other words, it reduces the urges to smoke.

This relatively new medicine works well in conjunction with another smoking cessation treatment such as counselling.

It is NOT a nicotine replacement treatment: the drug itself doesn’t contain nicotine but affects neurotransmitters (chemical signals) in the brain which are responsible for nicotine addiction.

You normally start this treatment a couple of weeks before your quit smoking date.

Zyban like any other form of medicine has side effects. These include: nausea, dizziness, headaches, dry mouth and general flu-like symptoms.

Champix is the brand name of the drug Varenicline and works by imitating the effects of nicotine on your body. It eases nicotine withdrawal symptoms as well as the desire to smoke.

So it reduces the risk of you giving in to the temptation to smoke.

Your GP will advise you to start taking this a couple of weeks before your stop smoking date.

Champix has side effects which include: nausea, headaches, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

Your GP will discuss the benefits and side effects of both of these drugs.

Stop Smoking FAQs Index:

• Stop Smoking FAQs - Intro
• Why is it so difficult to stop smoking?
• What are the advantages of stopping smoking?
• What are nicotine withdrawal symptoms?
• I have tried to give up before but failed. How can I ensure that it won’t happen again?
• Do I need a plan to stop smoking?

• Will stopping smoking help me to live longer?
• Can I get help to stop smoking from the NHS?
• What treatment is available for stopping smoking?
• What are Zyban and Champix?
• If I give in does that mean I have failed altogether?