Zyban
Available in 150mg
Zyban tablets are a prescription medication to help people quit smoking over 7 to 9 weeks of treatment.
- Reduces nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Nicotine-free treatment
- Can be taken with or without food
Pricing
| 150mg | |
| 60 Tablets | £66.99 |
| 120 Tablets | £129.99 |
When starting the consultation you will be redirected to the treatments page where you can start the short questionnaire.
Same day dispatch if ordered before 2pm
Discreet and plain packaging
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Free Delivery (Orders Over £20)
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Buy Zyban
How to order Zyban online:
- Complete a short online assessment to see if you’re eligible for treatment
- Reviewed by one of our clinicians
- If approved, we post it to you with tracked delivery and discreetly
What is Zyban?
Zyban is the brand name for bupropion, a prescription medicine used to help people quit smoking. It was originally developed as an antidepressant, but researchers noticed that patients taking it lost the urge to smoke, and it’s now licensed specifically as a stop-smoking aid.
Unlike patches or gum, it contains no nicotine. It’s meant to be used alongside motivational support, such as a stop-smoking service or counselling, rather than on its own.
How do Zyban tablets work?
Smoking triggers the release of dopamine in your brain, the chemical behind that quick hit of reward and pleasure. When you stop smoking, the brain’s chemical balance changes, and that change drives withdrawal symptoms: cravings, irritability, restlessness and low mood.
Bupropion, the active ingredient in Zyban, acts on the same dopamine and noradrenaline pathways. It doesn’t replace nicotine; it changes how your brain responds to its absence, which takes the edge off cravings and withdrawal to make quitting more manageable.
How do you take Zyban tablets?
You start taking Zyban while you’re still smoking, then pick a target quit day, ideally in your second week of treatment.
- Days 1 to 6: take one 150mg tablet once a day.
- Day 7 onwards: increase to one tablet twice a day, at least 8 hours apart and not close to bedtime. Stop smoking around now, on your target quit day.
- Weeks 3 to 9: continue one tablet twice a day.
Swallow tablets whole with water; don’t crush, chew or split them, as this can release the medicine too quickly and raise the risk of side effects, including fits. You can take Zyban with or without food.
If you haven’t managed to stop smoking by week 7, your doctor will usually advise coming off Zyban rather than continuing.
What are the side effects of Zyban tablets?
Not everyone gets side effects, and most people who do find them mild. The most commonly reported are dry mouth, difficulty sleeping, headaches, feeling or being sick, constipation and dizziness.
- For a dry mouth, drink more water and try sugar-free gum or lozenges.
- For disturbed sleep, cut caffeine in the evening and keep a calm bedtime routine (and remember your second dose shouldn’t be too close to bedtime anyway).
- For headaches, stay hydrated and take an over-the-counter painkiller if your doctor’s happy for you to use one.
- For nausea, small, plain meals and ginger tea tend to help more than a heavy or spicy dinner.
Full details of less common and rare side effects, including seizure risk, are in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can also report any side effect yourself through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
Who shouldn’t take Zyban?
You can’t take Zyban if you:
- are allergic to bupropion or any of its ingredients
- are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding
- are already taking another medicine that contains bupropion
- have a condition that causes fits, such as epilepsy, or have had seizures in the past
- have an eating disorder now or in the past, such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa
- have severe liver problems, such as cirrhosis
- have a brain tumour
- are a heavy drinker who has just stopped, or is planning to stop drinking alcohol
- have recently stopped, or plan to stop taking sedatives such as benzodiazepines
- have bipolar disorder as Zyban could trigger an episode
- are taking or have taken in the last 14 days a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression or Parkinson’s disease
Zyban can cause fits in around 1 in 1,000 people, and the risk is higher if you drink heavily, have diabetes treated with insulin or tablets, or have had a serious head injury.
It can also raise blood pressure, particularly if combined with nicotine patches. In rare cases it can trigger hallucinations, disordered thoughts or severe mood swings, especially in people with a history of mental health problems. Contact your doctor straight away if you feel depressed or have thoughts of harming yourself while taking it.
How effective is Zyban?
A 2023 review found that around 19 in 100 people taking bupropion were still smoke-free at 6 months, compared with about 12 in 100 taking a placebo.
Zyban or Champix?
Zyban and Champix (varenicline) both help you quit smoking, but they work differently. Zyban acts on the dopamine and noradrenaline systems in the brain to ease withdrawal and cravings. Champix binds directly to nicotine receptors, blunting both the craving for a cigarette and the pleasure you’d get from smoking one.| Zyban | Champix | |
|---|---|---|
| Mode of action | Antidepressant that also acts in the brain’s addiction centre | Nicotine receptor blocker (nicotinic agonist) |
| Active ingredient | Bupropion | Varenicline |
| Dosage | One tablet daily for 6 days, then one tablet twice a day | 0.5mg daily for 3 days, then 0.5mg twice daily for 4 days, then 1mg twice daily |
| Length of treatment | 7 to 9 weeks | 12 weeks |
| Quit rate at 6 months (vs placebo) | Around 18 in 100 people quit, vs about 10 in 100 on placebo | Around 28 in 100 people quit, vs about 10 in 100 on placebo |
| Most common side effects | Insomnia, dry mouth, dizziness | Nausea, abdominal discomfort, headache, insomnia |
FAQs
What should I do if I miss a dose?
Skip the missed dose and take your next tablet at the usual time. Don’t double up to make up for a forgotten one, as this raises your risk of side effects.
Do I need to stop taking Zyban gradually after 7 to 9 weeks?
Most people can stop Zyban abruptly once their course ends. If you’re worried that stopping suddenly might tempt you back to smoking, ask your doctor about tapering the dose down instead.
References
- Quit smoking with nicotine-free medicines (bupropion), NHS [accessed 25th September 2026]
- How NHS stop smoking services help you quit, NHS [accessed 25th September 2026]
- Zyban 150mg Prolonged Release Tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics, Electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) [accessed 25th September 2026]
- Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence, NICE Guideline NG209 [accessed 25th September 2026]
- Yellow Card Scheme, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) [accessed 25th September 2026]
- Hajizadeh A, et al. Antidepressants for smoking cessation (2023), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [accessed 25th September 2026]
- Medications to help people stop smoking: an overview of reviews, Cochrane [accessed 25th September 2026]
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