Bupropion in the treatment of tobacco smoking: indications, instructions, side effects

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"Oh, quit smoking without consequences," complained to me friend. In my questioning look, she explained that she tried many times to throw this bad habit, but always when trying to "tie" became irritable, stopped sleeping normally, since even dreams dreamed of smoking another cigarette. And in fact, nicotine, being the strongest toxin, is built into the metabolic processes in such a way that, when it is deficient, the symptoms begin to appear in the body of the smoker, similar to the withdrawal syndrome - dizziness, anxiety, anxiety, increased appetite. Smokers, knowing that a bad state of health necessarily overtakes them, are simply afraid to quit smoking without any medication. To alleviate withdrawal symptoms will help a new drug - bupropion.

Bupropion from Tobacco Smoking

Bupropion is not a trade name for a drug, it is simply an active substance of antidepressant medications known in Russia as Zyban and Velbutrin. Bupropion can not be bought in Russia, because it is not registered as a medicine and has not been certified. You can buy bupropion only in online pharmacies. Its price is quite high - a full course can be purchased no cheaper than for 5,000 rubles. Is it too expensive for an antidepressant? Let's try to understand.

Composition of

Each tablet of Zyban or Velbutrin contains 150 mg of active ingredient bupropion hydrochloride and auxiliary components: microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, carnauba wax and others.

Principle of action of

The action of bupropion is aimed at suppression of craving for nicotine. This ability of the antidepressant was discovered almost by accident - it turned out that the volunteers who tested the drug from depression did not experience more cravings for nicotine. For all that, bupropion is not a substitute for nicotine, as, for example, Nicorette, he has a completely different mechanism of action.

In smokers, it is this negative habit that causes the release of dopamine, and when you try to quit the level of the hormone falls, which causes irritability, anxiety, apathy and a constant bad mood. Bupropion inhibits the re-uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. In a more understandable language, this sounds like this: Bupropion does not allow you to reduce the level of pleasure hormones and thus does not give signs of a depressive state when trying to give up nicotine. By acting directly on those receptors that are in direct connection with getting euphoria from smoking a cigarette, bupropion replaces the action of nicotine, which significantly reduces withdrawal symptoms.

Indications

Bupropion is given to patients with severe depressive symptoms and as a prophylaxis for the relapse of depressive conditions. Particularly, it can be recommended to patients with nicotine dependence as an adjunct to smoking cessation.

In the video readings and instructions for the drug Velbutrin:

Instructions for use

For best effect, the drug is recommended to take the full course, namely within 9 weeks. In the treatment of nicotine dependence bupropion is prescribed according to this scheme: 150 g of the drug( 1 tablet) per day for three days, then the dose should be increased to 300 g.(2 tablets) with reception twice a day.

You should definitely follow these recommendations:

• tablet of bupropion is taken as a whole, does not dissolve in water, does not chew and does not crush;
• at one time take only one tablet, washing it with half a glass of water;
• take the tablets with an interval of at least 8 hours;
• doses above 300 mg per day are not recommended;
• if you missed the drug, then in no case should not take just two tablets of the drug. Remember - tablets are taken strictly one piece at a time!
• smoking during treatment is possible, but you should determine for yourself the date when you give up this habit.

Contraindications

Despite the fact that the drug in clinical trials has proved to be positive, you should not forget that first of all it is an antidepressant having its contraindications to the use:

• Epilepsy and any convulsive activity.
• Age to 18 and after 60 years.
• Nervous diseases - anorexia or bulimia.
• Tumors of the brain.
• Severe allergic reactions.
• Parkinson's disease. The drug is incompatible with drugs for the treatment of this disease.
  Diabetes mellitus.
• Simultaneous reception of other antidepressants. Before taking bupropion, should maintain a minimum period between the drugs in two weeks.
• Nephropathy.
• Cirrhosis of the liver.

Side effects of

Some patients who take bupropion with a view to quitting smoking are noted at the beginning of the reception for tremors of the extremities, redness of the face, increased libido. In connection with these phenomena, patients give up bupropion. In fact, all these manifestations take place within two weeks after the establishment of a maximum dose of 300 mg.

The other significant side effects of taking an antidepressant include:

• dry mouth;
• frequent change of mood;
• nausea or vomiting;
• lack of appetite;
• visual disturbances;
• inability to concentrate attention;
• problems with urination;
• is rare - tachycardia, vascular problems, Stephen-Johnson syndrome, epileptic seizures, jaundice and hepatitis.

Do not combine bupropion with lactating mothers, as the drug penetrates into breast milk. With a high need for taking the drug, breast-feeding should be stopped.

This category means that studies have been carried out on animals that have shown adverse effects on the fetus, but no experiments have been performed on pregnant women. In this regard, the potential use of the drug can justify the risk to the fetus.

For children under 18, the drug is strongly discouraged.

Reviews

Reviews about the drug are very different - from laudatory to extremely negative.

For example, Tatyana from Kiev gives a medicine to a hard four: "It did not work on a small dose. Increasing the dosage to the recommended, a couple of weeks, I realized that I did not want to smoke. With a strong stress, I wanted to smoke, but quickly let go. Initially, there were a lot of side effects - and weight was greatly reduced, and sweating, and constipation. In due course has passed or has taken place, accordingly bupropionum can be considered as the best agent from dependence. »

And here the citation from an antitobacco forum:« Took bupropion in a small dose about two weeks. I did not cope with the pimples and I refused to take it. During this time, I did not quit smoking. "

Psychiatrists consider bupropion an effective drug for treating patients with depression, they also note the positive effect of the drug as antinicotin therapy. Narcologists, in view of the non-spread of the drug in the Russian Federation, practically do not use this antidepressant in their clinical practice.

Analogs

There is no analogue of bupropion in Russia, since the drug is still in the certification center. A single drug with active ingredient bupropion hydrochloride is registered - this is Wellbutrin. True, it is rather problematic to purchase it in pharmacy chains, you will have to look in online pharmacies.

In conclusion, it should be said that only a strong motivation to stop smoking can contribute to the abandonment of addiction. Medications can help, but without a sincere desire to quit, it will not work.